Ogam vs Shumah: Why McCarthy Picked Ogam Over Shumah Despite 21-Goal Season

Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy’s decision to include Ryan Ogam while leaving out Moses Shumah has sparked debate among Kenyan football fans ahead of Kenya’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Eritrea.

Kick-off is scheduled for 4:00 pm EAT, with Kenya opening Group D against an Eritrean side returning to competitive AFCON action.

Although Kenya, alongside Tanzania and Uganda, is already guaranteed a place at AFCON 2027 as co-hosts, the qualifiers provide McCarthy with an important competitive platform to build a team capable of performing strongly on home soil next year.

The debate over the squad has focused heavily on Shumah, who enjoyed an outstanding 2025/26 season in Zambia, and Ogam, who has remained one of McCarthy’s trusted attacking options.
Shumah’s 21-goal season

Shumah finished the 2025/26 Zambian Super League season as the top scorer with 21 goals for Power Dynamos.

His goals helped Power Dynamos win the league title, while his performances also earned him several individual awards, including the Golden Boot and Fans’ Player of the Season.

The impressive campaign earned Shumah a move to South African side AmaZulu ahead of the 2026/27 season. His 21 goals have therefore become a major talking point whenever Kenya’s attacking options are discussed.

Despite that record, Shumah was left out of McCarthy’s provisional squad and subsequently did not make the final 24-man team.

Shumah’s 2026/27 Campaign

Shumah has started a new chapter at AmaZulu but has had limited playing time so far. He made his South African Premiership debut against Richards Bay on September 4, coming on in the 86th minute.

He played about five minutes and did not score or provide an assist. His current 2026/27 league record therefore stands at one appearance, five minutes, zero goals and zero assists. That is a sharp contrast to the 21 goals he scored during the previous campaign.

Photo of Moses Shumah during a past match involving Harambee Stars
PHOTO/Shumah

Ryan Ogam Club’s Record 

Ogam has also experienced a change of club. After his time in Austria, he moved to Belgian side RFC Liège, where he is playing in the second tier. His available 2026/27 league figures show three appearances, all starts, 198 minutes, zero goals and zero assists.

Therefore, neither Ogam nor Shumah has scored or provided an assist for their current clubs in the 2026/27 league campaign based on the figures available.

The difference between the two, however, becomes clearer when their previous seasons and international records are considered.

Ogam’s 2025/26 Season and Kenya Record

Ogam spent the 2025/26 season with Wolfsberger AC and its reserve team. He made one Bundesliga appearance for the senior side, playing 16 minutes without scoring or assisting.

For Wolfsberger AC II, he made nine appearances and scored four goals.Ogam’s stronger club numbers came before his move to Europe.

During the first half of the 2024/25 FKF Premier League season with Tusker, he scored 15 goals and provided three assists in 13 matches before an injury disrupted his campaign.

More importantly for his current national-team position, Ogam has continued to feature prominently for Harambee Stars. In 2026, he scored against Estonia during the FIFA Series and has also scored important goals for Kenya in World Cup qualifying.

He scored four goals during Kenya’s 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, strengthening his position among McCarthy’s attacking options.

Photo of Ryan Ogam while playing during the CHAN Competition at Nyayo Stadium in 2025
PHOTO/Pulse Sports

Also Read:Olunga Eyes Record-Breaking Night as Harambee Stars Begin AFCON Qualifiers

Why Shumah’s Omission Raised Questions

Shumah is not the only established player to miss out. Eric “Marcelo” Ouma, Tyson Otieno and Alpha Onyango were also among the notable absentees from McCarthy’s provisional squad.

The omissions have raised questions about the importance of current club situations, playing time and match fitness in McCarthy’s selection process.

Mohammed Bajaber and Austine Odhiambo were also listed among the unattached players, while the coach rewarded several new faces with senior invitations.

Nairobi United midfielder Kevin Wangaya was one of the biggest surprises after impressing at the 2025 Under-20 AFCON, where he was named in the Group Stage Best XI.

English-based forward Louis Millard of Swindon Town also received his first call-up, alongside Javan Ochieng of United States-based Hickory FC.

Also Read:How Can Football End Stadium Rowdiness? Fans Reveal Their Solutions

Olunga and Okumu Return

While the omissions attracted attention, McCarthy also welcomed back two established players. Captain Michael Olunga returned after missing about five months with a serious pelvic injury that ended his previous domestic season in Qatar.

The Al-Arabi striker had already returned to action and scored a dramatic equaliser against former club Al Duhail at the start of the new campaign.

Joseph Okumu also returned after a lengthy injury layoff.The Stade de Reims defender suffered a serious knee ligament injury in his club’s opening league match and spent about six months on the sidelines.

Their returns give McCarthy more experience as he continues to shape the team.

McCarthy Explains Why He Trusts Ogam

McCarthy has offered a direct explanation for why Ogam continues to receive his backing despite competition from players with impressive club statistics.

Speaking about his approach to selecting players, the South African coach compared his own Champions League success with Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s career.

“I won the Champions League, but does that make me a better player than Zlatan Ibrahimovic because he didn’t win the Champions League?”

McCarthy then explained that he places significant value on players who put the national team first. He pointed to the decision Ogam made around CHAN and his move to Austria as an example of the commitment he expects from his players.

“Ryan could have easily said, Coach, I had an opportunity to go to Austria. If the Austrian team wants me, they can wait for me after CHAN. My country comes first. Me? Elephant. The memory sticks,” McCarthy said.

The coach said he wants players who will put the team ahead of personal interests when Kenya needs them.

“If I want to go to war, I know who’s going to jump in front of me to save me, rather than someone else who chooses self-worth more than the country or more than what your team needs of you there.”

Ogam Remains McCarthy’s Trusted Choice

McCarthy was even more direct when explaining how he would choose between players when making a difficult selection decision. The coach said his trust in Ogam goes beyond statistics and individual awards.

“So when you ask me, you can win the Golden Boot or that, me, I know, with Ryan Ogam, I’m going to win matches. Other players, they need to prove me otherwise. And unfortunately, if I need to make an executive decision, it will always be Ryan Ogam,” he said.

Photo of Harambee Stars players lining up against Iran for an International match on March 28,2023
PHOTO/Simon Holmes