Zak Vyner is hoping to force his way into the Kenya squad as they bid to reach the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations
Bristol City defender Zak Vyner has declared his intention to play for Kenya, with the Africa Cup of Nations taking place at some stage next year.
The London-born, Bath-raised centre-back qualifies through his mother, and Vyner is proud of his East African roots. He named his clothing brand, which was launched earlier this year, ‘Onyego’ in tribute to his African middle name.
Vyner wasn’t officially named in the Harambee Stars’ provisional squad for their forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Burundi on June 7 and Ivory Coast four days later but head coach Engin Firat has indicated he could add some as-yet undisclosed players to his group.
Vyner made 41 appearances for City over the 2023/24 season, starting 35 Championship fixtures with his only games missed due to two knee injuries in September and April.
The 27-year-old, who signed a new three-year contract last summer, has remained a mainstay of the Robins defence under Liam Manning after establishing himself over Nigel Pearson’s time at the club and was named Players’ Player of the Season for the 2022/23 campaign.
Should he play his way into regular contention for Kenya it could cause some selection uncertainty for City heading into the new season as the Africa Cup of Nations is being held in Morocco, and specific dates are yet to be confirmed.
The last edition of the tournament in Ivory Coast ran from January 13 until February 11. CAF (Confederation of African Football) had originally wanted to run this tournament mid-year, to avoid clashing with the European domestic season, but that would clash with FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup, which is being held in the United States from June 15 until July 13.
An unnamed CAF official told the AFP news agency in February that a decision has been reached in principle for it to take place over July-August.
AFCON qualifying doesn’t start until September and runs across the three scheduled international breaks following the summer. Kenya, who didn’t qualify for the 2023 AFCON due to a FIFA ban for governmental interference in the national game, have been seeded in Pot 2 for the forthcoming draw.
Meanwhile, Vyner’s childhood friend and City teammate Max O’Leary has won a place back in the Republic of Ireland squad for their forthcoming friendlies against Hungary and Portugal.
O’Leary is yet to be capped but after breaking into the international set-up in 2019 had been left out of recent squads. The 27-year-old enjoyed an excellent campaign, starting each one of City’s 52 matches, and is one of four goalkeepers named by interim head coach John O’Shea.
Robins colleagues Jason Knight and Mark Sykes are also in the 26-strong group which also includes former City players Callum O’Dowda and Sammie Szmodics and previous transfer targets Jake O’Brien and Finn Azaz.
There has been disappointment for City forward Anis Mehmeti, however, with the 23-year-old not selected in Albania’s squad for Euro 2024. Mehmeti has been capped three times, with the last in June 2023, but he will not be going to Germany.
Albania are in Group B alongside Spain, Croatia and Italy, meaning City’s only representative at the tournament will be Scotland full-back Ross McCrorie, should he make Steve Clarke’s final squad which has to be announced by June 6.
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