STARS ABROAD: Ouma features as Lech Poznan seal place at UEFA Conference League

Harambee Stars midfielder Timothy Ouma was a full participant for his side Lech Poznan on Thursday, 29 August as they secured a 2-1 victory over Belgian side Genk in the second-leg of the UEFA Europa League qualifiers at Cegeka Arena.

Ouma, who was this week named in Benni McCarthy’s squad for Kenya’s pair of World Cup qualifiers against The Gambia and Seychelles, played all 90 minutes of the clash, which was ultimately not enough to secure the Polish club a place in Europe’s second-tier club competition.

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Poznan, thanks to their journey however, will feature in the Conference League, where they have been drawn into pot two, and will get to know its opponents in the league phase on Friday, 29 August.

On Thursday, Poznan, who lost 5-1 in the first-leg, scored first through Junya Ito, before producing a second-half comeback through Kornel Lisman and Leo Bengtsson, who scored brilliantly from a free kick.

Ouma, playing in midfield, had one of his best performances with two shots on goal, and had an overall rating of 7.2.

Elsewhere in Bulgaria, another Polish club, Raków Częstochowa, who are home to Harambee Stars left-back Eric ‘Marcelo’ Ouma also booked their place in the Conference League, following a 2-1 win over FC Arda Kardzhali.

Rakow, who led 1-0 going into the away second leg, got their goals through Peter Barath and Ivi Lopez.

Ouma might as well miss out on the club’s participation in the competition, following news that he had sustained a rupture on his Achilles tendon, which in turn also ruled him out of Harambee Stars action.

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Rakow, ahead of Friday’s draw, are in Pot Five alongside Breidablik, Sigma Olomouc, Samsunspor, AEK Larnaca and Shkendija.

Poznan, on the other hand, will be drawn from the same pool as bigwigs Crystal Palace, Dynamo Kyiv, Rayo Vallecano, Sparta Praha and Shamrock Rovers.