Shock as Harambee Stars midfielder goes AWOL ahead of crucial AFCON qualifier against Namibia

Timothy Ouma (L) has unexpectedly gone AWOL || Courtesy

Shock as Harambee Stars midfielder goes AWOL ahead of crucial AFCON qualifier against Namibia

Joel Omotto 19:40 - 09.09.2024

The whereabouts of the Sweden-based player is still not known hours to Kenya’s 2025 AFCON qualifier against Namibia in Johannesburg.

The whereabouts of Harambee Stars midfielder Timothy Ouma are known despite his club confirming that he is with the national team.

Ouma was not part of the Harambee Stars squad that faced Zimbabwe on Friday, when Kenya recorded a goalless draw, and hopes that he would be involved in the game against Namibia on Tuesday is not there after it was confirmed that he is not part of Engin Firat’s team.

Firat told Passion Sports that he does not know the whereabouts of the player, referring the outlet to Football Kenya Federation.

“Only the federation can answer that,” Firat told Passion Sports, while the federation’s media officer Kenn Okaka was not committal, saying: “The best person to answer that is the player.”

The back and forth leaves a cloud of uncertainty over the player’s whereabouts although sources told Passion Sports that he is in the country but cannot be reached on phone.

Ouma was among players who Firat said would not be available for Friday’s encounter although the tactician did not shed much light over the reasons for his absence.

“We have Tobias Knost from Germany, Collins Sichenje from Serbia, Ian Otieno from South Africa, Daniel Anyembe from Denmark, Timothy Ouma in Sweden, and Michael Olunga in Qatar who will all miss, some due to injuries and others because the clubs failed to release them,” Firat said on Thursday.

However, of the two reasons given by Firat, Ouma has not been reported injured neither has his club Elfsborg refused to release him.

“IF Elfsborg currently has three players who are away on national team assignments. Timothy Ouma (Kenya A national team), Eggert Gudmundsson & Andri Baldursson (Iceland U21),” the Swedish club posted on social media last week.