Harambee Stars assistant coach Vasil Masounakis has explained why prolific Power Dynamos striker Moses Shumah continues to miss out on Kenya national team selection despite enjoying a remarkable campaign in Zambia.
Shumah finished as the MTN Super League’s leading scorer with 21 goals, becoming the first player to reach the 20-goal mark in Zambia’s top flight since 2018. His impressive form had fuelled expectations of a return to the Harambee Stars squad, but head coach once again left him out of the latest selection.
Speaking on the striker’s omission, Masounakis acknowledged Shumah’s qualities but pointed to the intense competition for places in Kenya’s attack.
“Moses Shumah is doing very well in Zambia. He is a good player and has had an incredible season, scoring loads of goals. He is a talented finisher who is great at getting in behind defenders. Unfortunately, for most of the time we were playing our qualifiers, he was still finding his feet over there, and we already had fierce competition upfront with Michael Olunga and Jonah Ayunga.”
Kenya had initially planned to face Palestine and Kyrgyzstan during the June FIFA international window, but the fixtures were later revised. The Harambee Stars are now scheduled to play Lesotho in a two-match series at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa, as part of their preparations ahead of future assignments.
The first encounter is set for June 4, with the return fixture scheduled for June 7.
While Shumah’s continued absence is likely to spark debate among supporters, Kenya’s coaching staff insist the decision reflects the depth of attacking options currently available rather than any doubts over the forward’s ability.
