Harambee Stars duo in line for epic showdown against Tottenham
By Luke Oluoch, August 26, 2026Kenyan duo Collins Sichenje and Timothy Ouma could be in line to face English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur when Charlton Athletic face off against Spurs on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.
Charlton defeated Cheltenham Town 3-1 in the first round to set up this second-round EFL Cup tie, scheduled for a 9:45 pm kickoff.
Despite finishing last season in 19th place in the Championship, Nathan Jones’ side have made a strong start to their new campaign, winning their opening two league fixtures against Derby County and West Ham United.
Their next test comes against a Tottenham team still striving for cohesion following heavy summer spending. Following an opening-week defeat to Brentford, manager Roberto De Zerbi admitted that Spurs have yet to operate as a cohesive unit and lack sufficient fighting spirit.
For his part, Nathan Jones welcomes the tactical battle against top-tier opposition:
“Of course, you want to test your team against such clubs and such a manager. It will be a wonderful test, but we have to be at our best and compete. The Championship remains our priority, but this fixture is equally important as our next game,” he stated.
Centre-back Sichenje could be handed a starting role after making two substitute appearances so far in the second tier league. Meanwhile, it remains to be seen whether Charlton’s new signing, Timothy Ouma, will feature.
The midfielder is still settling in at the club just weeks after arriving on loan from Slavia Prague. Jones recently revealed that Ouma has been training with the U21 squad to build up his match fitness after missing out on full sharpness ahead of this clash.
A victory against Spurs would see the Championship side make club history. Charlton are seeking a rare passage beyond the second round, having achieved that feat only once in the past decade—a run that led to the quarter-finals during the 2022–23 season.
Last season, the Addicks were eliminated in the second round following a 3-1 away defeat to Cambridge United.