Harambee Stars’ injury crisis deepens as key striker limps out of Estonia clash
By Luke Oluoch, March 27, 2026Harambee Stars’ luck with injuries in the ongoing international window hit a new low with striker Job Ochieng becoming the latest addition to the team’s growing list of sidelined players.
The Spain-based forward, who has been in scintillating form for his La Liga reserve team, Real Sociedad B, was forced off midway through the FIFA Series friendly clash against Estonia on Friday, March 27, 2026, in Rwanda.
Ochieng, capitalising on a rare start in the absence of Michael Olunga—was forced off in the 37th minute after going down under a heavy challenge. He was hauled off after being attended to by medics, with Ben Stanley Omondi replacing the former Ligi Ndogo ace.
Benni McCarthy’s side traveled to fulfill the fixture on the back of a deepening injury crisis, with ten players already ruled out, including Michael Olunga and England-based Collins Sichenje.
Ochieng’s injury came as Kenya trailed the visitors at halftime following Tammik’s 20th-minute goal.
While the extent of his injury is yet to be fully assessed, it remains a major concern for the Kenyan team as they contend for a final fixture in the series this Sunday. If they overcome Estonia, the overall winner is set to face the victor of the match between Rwanda and Grenada.
Ochieng on a roll in Spain
The injury is also a significant worry for his club in Spain, where he has been in a rich vein of goalscoring form.
His recent catalogue of goals includes a strike on February 24, 2026, as Real Sociedad B claimed a 2-0 away win over Cádiz CF. On Saturday, March 2, 2026, he bagged another goal in a 3-2 defeat to Deportivo de La Coruña.
These feats followed a scoring streak of five consecutive games, including a goal in the 2-0 win over Cordoba CF on March 16, 2026.
As a reward for his fine form at the turn of the year, the youngster recently reached a career milestone when he made his La Liga debut for Pellegrino Matarazzo’s senior team. In doing so, he became only the third Kenyan to feature in the Spanish top flight, following in the footsteps of McDonald Mariga and Michael Olunga.