A former Premier League star has now come out of international retirement for his African nation following a recent decision by FIFA.
Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Victor Wanyama has confirmed his return to the Kenya national team just over a year after announcing his retirement from international duty.
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The 31-year-old has revealed that he made his decision following a recent meeting with Kenya sports minister Ababu Namwamba.
"I am glad to announce that I have accepted the minister's invitation to return to Harambee Stars," Wanyama said, according to BBC Sport Africa.
"I believe we all have a role to play and take Kenyan football forward after the return to international football."
His decision comes after FIFA lifted a nine-month ban on the Football Kenya Federation, which had previously been removed from power over allegations of corruption but has now been reinstated.
The impasse prevented the country's national teams from competing in any international competitions, resulting in the Harambee Stars being excluded from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
"[I] am delighted Victor Wanyama has agreed to return fully to Harambee Stars, rescinding his earlier decision to exit the team," Namwamba said.
"In our mission to rebuild our football and elevate our national teams, our elite players must be at the heart of this renaissance."
Wanyama, who now plies his trade for CF Montreal in Major League Soccer, was the first Kenyan to play in the Premier League when he joined Southampton from Celtic in 2013, before going on to play for Spurs, for whom he made 97 appearances.
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Having made his national team debut in May 2007, the 31-year-old has won 64 caps and scored seven goals to date for the Harambee Stars.
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