Harambee Stars midfielder set for UEFA Champions League football next season
By Joel Masibo, May 28, 2026Harambee Stars midfielder Timothy Ouma is set for Champions League football next season with his parent club Slavia Prague in the Czech Republic.
The 21-year-old former Nairobi City Stars player moved to Prague at the beginning of the season from Swedish side IF Elfsborg, but he was loaned to Lech Poznan. Slavia won the Czech league and earned a direct ticket to the UEFA Champions League group stage, which is now referred to as the league phase.
With the Polish football giants, Ouma has managed to win the league title this season, a feat that takes the 10-time Ekstraklasa winners a spot in the 2026/2027 UEFA Champions League qualification round.
Ouma, who recorded 34 appearances in Poland, credits his success to family support.
The Kenyan international jetted back home last night from Poland and was jubilantly received by family and friends at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport with congratulatory messages for winning the league title in Poland.
“It has been a good season, ups and downs, but we managed to win the league. We pushed as a team, individually, I also tried to bring the name back again because there was a lot going on,” Ouma said at the JKIA upon landing on Thursday morning, May 28, 2026.
National duties
Despite his success in Europe, Ouma missed out on the Harambee Stars squad for the June 2026 international friendlies against Kyrgyzstan and Palestine on Wednesday, June 3, and Saturday, June 6, 2026.
These two fixtures come as part of the preparations of the Kenyan national team for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers that kick off in September 2026.
A major highlight in the latest selection by head coach Benni McCarthy is the inclusion of five fresh faces who have received their maiden senior team invitations. These are defender Deon Woodman of Wealdstone FC, Hull City winger Sammy Hena-Kamau, striker Micah Obiero from Wealdstone FC, Stoke City defender Sydney Agina, and ADO Den Haag goalkeeper Caleb Kramer. Their selection reflects the technical bench’s ongoing efforts to strengthen and expand the squad ahead of the AFCON 2027 qualifying campaign.
The squad includes three goalkeepers: Byrne Omondi, Faruk Shikhalo, and Caleb Kramer. In defence, the coaches selected Erick Ouma, Stanley Wilson, Sylvester Owino, Frank Odhiambo, Alphonce Omija, Deon Woodman, Rooney Onyango, and Sydney Agina.
The midfield department features Richard Odada, Chris Erambo, Clarke Odour, Will Lenkupae, Austine Odhiambo, and Zech Obiero.
Leading the attack will be Job Ochieng, Mohammed Bajaber, Ben Stanley, Sammy Hena-Kamau, Micah Obiero, Ryan Ogam, and Lawrence Okoth.