Ronney Onyango believes Harambee Stars have what it takes to stand up to South Africa as Kenya prepare for two demanding encounters in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
The Sogndal Fotball defender is among the 25 players named by head coach Benni McCarthy for the November 13 and 17 matches against Bafana Bafana.
Kenya will travel to Soweto for the first leg at the 40,000-capacity Orlando Amstel Arena, before hosting South Africa at Nyayo Stadium four days later. Onyango expects a tough contest but believes Stars have the quality to challenge their opponents.
"South Africa have a strong team, but we also have good players who can compete against them. We respect our opponents, but we must go into the matches believing in ourselves," Onyango said.
The 25-year-old has become an important member of the national team since making his debut against Russia in an October 2023 friendly match that ended 2-2 in Antalya, Turkey.
He made his mark a month later during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, scoring his first international goal and providing an assist in Kenya's 5-0 victory over Seychelles in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire.
His pace, crossing ability and willingness to push forward have made him a valuable option on the right flank. He can play as a right-back, wing-back or winger, giving McCarthy flexibility in his team selection.
"We know what is expected of us. These are important matches, and we want to show that we can compete with the best teams in Africa. We have to work together and make good use of our chances," he said.
Onyango's journey to the national team started in Nairobi's grassroots football structures. He developed his skills at local youth setups before turning out for Muhoroni Youth and Wazito FC.
His breakthrough came at Gor Mahia, where he joined in 2023 and quickly established himself as a regular. He helped K'Ogalo win the 2023/24 league title under coach Johnathan McKinstry.
His performances attracted interest from abroad, and in 2025 he moved to Norwegian side Sogndal, signing a contract that runs until December 2027.
The move has given him an opportunity to test himself against different opponents and improve his game in European football.
"Playing in Norway has helped me understand the game better. The competition is tough, and every match pushes you to improve. I want to bring that experience to Harambee Stars and help the team get good results," he said.
He also captained Kenya's Emerging Stars at the 2024 Cosafa Cup, adding leadership experience to his growing international career.
Kenya head into the South Africa double-header with one point from their opening two Group D matches after drawing 1-1 with Eritrea and losing 1-0 to Guinea.
The Stars have already secured qualification for the 2027 Afcon as co-hosts alongside Uganda and Tanzania. However, the matches against South Africa offer McCarthy's side an important opportunity to test themselves against strong opposition.
Onyango wants the team to make the most of the occasion and give Kenyan supporters something to celebrate.
"Our target is to give a good account of ourselves in both matches. We want to fight for the country, get positive results and show our fans that this team is moving in the right direction," he said.
