Sichenje left to await England debut as Charlton falls to Pompey
By Luke Oluoch, February 18, 2026Collins Sichenje was left to contend with a place on the substitutes’ bench as Charlton Athletics slumped to a 3-1 defeat to Portsmouth on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, in the English Championship.
The Kenyan defender was named among Nathan Jones’ substitutes for a third straight match but failed to earn minutes as the hosts slumped to a first loss in three games against Pompey.
Cheap goals
Speaking after the clash, Jones decried a poor performance from his charges, specifically lamenting the manner in which his team conceded the goals.
“We were really poor tonight. We conceded from long-range strikes. I believe we needed to do better with the goals. Yes, we can defend better, but you cannot block everything. The keeper should be doing something about those strikes from long range. Some referees’ decisions also contributed to the result, but I don’t want to blame it only on the officiating,” he added.
The Kenyan joined the Addicks in January and directly joined the team’s training sessions straight after his arrival.
He earned his first inclusion in the Addicks’ matchday squad on Friday, February 6, 2026, against Queens Park Rangers.
His second mention came on Wednesday, February 11, in a victory over Stoke City, where he also remained unused in the clash.
Speaking days after his arrival, Jones lauded the readiness exhibited by the Harambee Stars ace despite acknowledging that he might take time to adapt to the demands of his new environment.
“He is up to speed: he had a preseason with his team. He is a super athlete, as you would expect from his Kenyan heritage,” he said in an interview about the player’s first few days at the club.
Settling in at the Valley
“He will take time to adapt to the English Championship and the football, but we are happy. He is aggressive and front-footed and technically very good. Which are very good attributes,” he added.
A trip to St. Mary’s Stadium on Saturday, February 21, 2026, is next on Addicks’s fixture itinerary. The tie will kick off a couple of fixtures on the road for Sichenje and Charlton before the team also visits West Brom on February 24, 2026.
Charlton will conclude their month’s campaign with a home clash against Wrexham, in a tie that could pit the Kenyan against his fellow Harambee Stars ace Zak Vyner, who recently signed with the promotion-chasing outfit.