Blow for Benni McCarthy’s Harambee Stars as Joseph Okumu Faces Extended Sideline with Serious Shoulder Injury

Joseph Okumu suffered a nasty shoulder injury playing for Reims

Blow for Benni McCarthy’s Harambee Stars as Joseph Okumu Faces Extended Sideline with Serious Shoulder Injury

Mark Kinyanjui 16:45 - 15.04.2025

Okumu, who missed Harambee Stars' March assignments against Gambia and Gabon, sustained a nasty shoulder injury during Reims' Ligue 1 clash with Strasbourg.

Stade de Reims defender Joseph Okumu is facing a race against time to return before the end of the season after suffering what was initially feared to be a serious shoulder injury during Reims’ 0-1 home loss to Strasbourg on Sunday.

The 27-year-old Kenyan international, who has been capped 27 times, was visibly in discomfort following the incident.

 Post-match, Reims head coach Samba Diawara expressed concern that the injury could be a broken shoulder, potentially sidelining Okumu for the rest of the season.

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“There’s a lot of concern, and we think it could be the end of the season for him,” Diawara said. “The Kenyan could be suffering from a fracture, according to initial medical observations.”

However, there was a glimmer of hope as the player underwent further tests in the days that followed. By Wednesday, just before Reims claimed a 2-0 win over Lens in the opening match of Ligue 1’s 29th round, Diawara offered a more encouraging update:

“There is more fear than harm,” he assured, though confirming that Okumu would still miss the Lens clash.

Okumu’s latest setback is especially concerning given his recent struggles with adductor injuries, making this relapse particularly untimely. 

With only five matches left in the Ligue 1 season, his potential absence could impact Stade de Reims’ tense battle to avoid slipping into relegation danger. 

While the Champagne-based side currently sits outside the drop zone, the safety margin is slim — and crucial fixtures, including a penultimate round showdown with ASSE, could decide their fate.

The timing of the injury also delivers a blow to Benni McCarthy’s Harambee Stars, who are preparing for upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in June. Okumu had been expected to play a key role at the heart of Kenya’s defense.

This latest development comes after an earlier issue during the March international break, when McCarthy explained Okumu’s absence from the national team — despite playing 90 minutes for Reims ahead of the break — as the result of a misunderstanding with the club.

“Umh… I don’t know. There was just a misunderstanding with the manager and Stanley [Okumu] and the club, so he is not here,” McCarthy stated at the time.

With uncertainty now hanging over Okumu’s fitness, both club and country may have to plan the final stretch of their campaigns without one of their most dependable defensive figures.

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