Five players who can replace Wanyama as captain

After the 30-year-old midfielder recently called time on an eventful Harambee Stars career via an emotional statement on his social media pages, Goal parades some of the players who can replace him as the captain of the national team.

The 24-year-old former Chemelil Sugar defender is currently enjoying a good spell of action with KAA Gent in Belgium after joining the team at the start of the season from Swedish Allsvenskan side IF Elfsborg.

After spending time with the Kenyan U21 and U23 teams, he made his international debut for the senior team in 2016 and has gone ahead to cement his place in the starting XI.

During his time with the junior national teams, he was the captain, and with the exit of Wanyama, the towering defender can easily take the armband and lead the team from the back.

The former Gor Mahia left-back is currently playing for Swedish club AIK Fotboll and can also be deployed in all other positions on the left side.

The 24-year-old made his international debut for Kenya in 2016 and was a squad member at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations where Kenya failed to make it past the group stage.

His recent performances for the national team, have seen him win the hearts of many Kenyans and he can do even better if given the captaincy role.

In the absence of Wanyama during the last 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers against Uganda and Rwanda, the towering striker was handed the captaincy role by the then coach Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee.

Having been tested with the task, Olunga, who currently turns out for Qatari side Al Duhail SC, and made his debut for Kenya in a friendly against Seychelles at the Stade Linite in Victoria on March 28, 2015, can be retained to continue with the role.

The 27-year-old led by example as he scored two goals to help Kenya defeat neighbours Tanzania 3-2 in the 2019 Afcon and his leadership skills have also been tested while turning out for Kashiwa Reysol in Japan.

The former AFC Leopards goalkeeper made his debut for the national team in 2015 and has been the preferred keeper for Kenya since the 2019 Afcon finals held in Egypt, where Patrick Matasi was the first choice.

His superb performances at Zesco United of Zambia led the Timu Ya Ziko to the Premier League title last season and with his commanding style of play from the back, he can perfectly fit in as the new Kenya captain.

Another good choice to claim the armband from Wanyama, having turned out for several clubs in Sweden among them – current team Jonkopings Sodra IF, Vasalunds IF, and IF Brommapojkarna - since leaving Mathare United.

Johana has managed 11 caps for the national team plus four goals and his debut game was against Ethiopia on July 4, 2015, at Nyayo Stadium and his maiden goal was the winning goal when Kenya beat the Democratic Republic of Congo 2-1 at Kasarani Stadium.

His experience in Europe can help him to manage the Kenya squad.