Allan Wangas Harambee Stars miss sparks uproar

The shock omission of Kenyan Premier League (KPL) top scorer Allan Wanga from the natioanl team has drawn sharp criticism with Kenyans going online to express their disappointment at Sebastien Migne’s decision.

Wanga has had a standout season with Kakamega Homeboyz and despite finishing top of the KPL’s goal-scoring charts with 17 goals, the veteran striker was dropped after Migne trimmed his squad down to 27 players.

Goalkeeper Brian Bwire and Whyvonne Isuza were among the three players that were axed on Thursday, hours before the Harambee Stars depart the country to France where they will hold a 19-day training camp.

Bwire’s initial inclusion in the team had sparked just as much debate and it was widely expected he would be left out. Isuza enjoyed an impressive campaign with Leopards and finished as their league top scorer (joint with Vincent Oburu).

But it is Migne’s decision to axe Wanga that has been intensely debated with majority of Kenyans holding the view that he deserved a chance to be in the team.

Sofapaka striker John Avire, former Kariobangi Sharks striker Masud Juma, Christopher Mbamba (IK Oddevold), Michael Olunga (Kashiwa Reysol) were preferred ahead of Wanga.

Wanga accepted Migne’s decision graciously and wished the team well in a tweet.

https://twitter.com/allanwanga_/status/1134081779877449730

Here is a sample of reactions following Wanga’s omission:

https://twitter.com/MukamiWambora/status/1134089119234240513

First it Jesee Were, then we kept quiet, now it is #AllanWanga; what would be Coach Sebastian Migne’s justification for dropping Allan from the #HarambeeStars’ #2019AFCON-bound squad?! pic.twitter.com/srhhLHc3kJ

— Francis Ngira (@francisngira) May 30, 2019

Allan Wanga who has scored 18 goals in KPL this season is not part of Harambee Stars squad travelling to France…..?? 😂😂 are we starting to lose the Afcon even before we play??? pic.twitter.com/3jX3rdg44S

— S.N. Nyamao 🇰🇪 (@snnyamao) May 30, 2019

Allan wanga dropped Harambee stars afcon squad,coach Migne thinks masoud Juma is better than him(wanga)!!! pic.twitter.com/aQkAHLPhUS

— silo Kim (@silokim) May 30, 2019

https://twitter.com/pauliddiali/status/1134079254633865216

https://twitter.com/pauliddiali/status/1134077367041871873

How on earth can that so migne leave Allan Wanga in the squad and take mbamba someone who never played for qualifiers.Utajua hujui ata mtatolewa na game ya kwanza

— Allo Machaa (@AlloMachaa) May 30, 2019