England-based defender Harper out to make his mark as Harambee Stars face Burundi

Harambee Stars and Walsall fullback Vincent Harper has expressed excitement and optimism after making his long-awaited return to the national team, ahead of Kenya’s final 2026 FIFA World Cup away qualifiers against Burundi and Ivory Coast.

The England-based defender, who last earned a call-up two years ago under then-coach Engin Firat, said he was “delighted” to rejoin the squad, describing the moment as a major step in his football journey.

“I’m very delighted to get the call-up again. I’ve missed it, so yeah, it’s nice to be back,” Harper told Citizen Digital. “I’m a direct and dynamic player who offers a lot of energy — I can go up and down the pitch all game.”

The Walsall FC left-back has been enjoying a fine run of form in England’s League One, recently providing a key assist in his side’s 2–1 comeback victory over Bristol Rovers at the Poundland Bescot Stadium on October 4. His strong performances have not gone unnoticed by Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy, who recalled him to fill the void left by Erick ‘Marcelo’ Ouma’s Achilles injury.

Harper, who joined Walsall from Exeter City this summer, has made five league appearances this season. During the 2024/25 campaign, he featured in 26 matches across all competitions, registering two goals and four assists, impressive stats for a fullback known for his explosive pace and work rate.

Reflecting on his previous stint with the national team, where he failed to make his debut, Harper said the experience motivated him to work even harder.

“It was disappointing not to play last time, but it made me push myself more. Thankfully, the manager has trusted me again, and now my personal goal is to finally get an appearance for Kenya,” he shared.

 “It’s a lot different this time. We like to play football more, keeping possession and passing, rather than going direct — and I think that fits a lot of the players we have now,” he noted, also revealing he’s been slowly learning Swahili,  to bond with his teammates.

With the 23-man squad now in camp, McCarthy will be banking on Harper’s energy and attacking threat from the flanks as Kenya prepares to face Burundi on October 6 before hosting Ivory Coast on October 13.