Erick Ouma expected to join Harambee Stars camp ahead of WCQ, Okumu makes final squad

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Erick Ouma expected to join Harambee Stars camp ahead of WCQ, Okumu makes final squad

Saturday 01st June, 2024 08:30 AM| By Collins Amanga

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The Harambee Stars are gearing up for their upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifier matches against Burundi and Ivory Coast, scheduled to be played on June 7 and 11, 2024, at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe, Malawi.

Erick Ouma, the Harambee Stars’ fullback, is expected to link up with the team ahead of their trip to Malawi.

Harambee Stars pick Ouma

Head coach Engin Firat included Ouma in the travelling squad announced on Friday. Ouma had been sidelined with an injury sustained while playing for Raków Częstochowa against Zagłębie Lubin in a Polish League match on May 8.

Harambee Stars defender Erick 'Marcelo' Ouma signs for Rakow Czestochowa of Poland. PHOTO/Rakow Czestochowa — Harambee Stars defender Erick Ouma signs for Rakow Czestochowa of Poland. PHOTO/Rakow Czestochowa

He was forced to leave the field in the 29th minute, with his team eventually losing 2-0. Medical tests revealed that Ouma had torn his semimembranosus muscle, sidelining him for the remainder of the season.

In addition to Ouma, the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) confirmed that Joseph Okumu, who was expected to miss the international campaign, has recovered and will head directly to Malawi.

Other players set to join the team in Malawi include Daniel Anyembe, Timothy Ouma, Collins Sichenje, and Ian Otieno.

“Erick Ouma is set to join camp before the team departs for Malawi. Meanwhile, Joseph Okumu, Daniel Anyembe, Timothy Noor Ouma, Collins Sichenje, and Ian Otieno are set to link up with the team in Malawi,” FKF confirmed.

The first match will see the Harambee Stars face Burundi on June 7, followed by a clash against Ivory Coast on June 11. Both matches will take place at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe, Malawi.

The team is scheduled to depart for Malawi on Sunday, June 2, 2024, and return on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Preparations for the qualifiers commenced on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, in Nairobi.

Despite being the home team, the Harambee Stars will play both matches in Malawi due to the unavailability of Nyayo National Stadium and Kasarani Stadium.

Harambee Stars venues

These are the only stadiums in Kenya provisionally approved by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for international matches and are currently undergoing renovation ahead of the 2024 African Nations Championships (CHAN) and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which Kenya will co-host alongside Tanzania and Uganda.

Kenya is currently placed third out of six in Group F of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, having accumulated three points from their opening two matches against Gabon and Seychelles. The road to the 48-team World Cup, set to be held across 16 cities in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, remains challenging.

Harambee Stars celebrate after winning the Four Nations Cup. PHOTO/FKF

Only the top team in the group, consisting of Ivory Coast, Gabon, Burundi, The Gambia, Seychelles, and Kenya, will secure direct qualification. Four of the best runners-up from the nine groups will compete in a playoff, determining CAF’s representative in the Inter-confederation playoffs involving six teams, ultimately deciding the last two FIFA World Cup berths.