Stars Abroad: Esse Akida scores as Okumu & Onyango post mixed results in Europe

Several Kenyan footballers were in action for their European-based clubs over the weekend ahead of the upcoming international break.

The likes of Esse Akida and Joseph Okumu helped their clubs pick maximum points while others were on the receiving end. Here is a brief wrap of how Kenyan stars performed in their respective leagues.

Okumu helps Reims keep alive European hopes

Harambee Stars central defender Joseph Okumu returned from injury to help his French Ligue 1 side Stade de Reims pick up maximum points against FC Metz.

The Kakamega High School old boy was introduced in the second half of the match staged at the Stade Auguste Delaune.

Play here and stand a chance of winning the over 32 Million SportPesa Midweek Jackpot

At the time of his introduction, the score sheet read 1-1 but Okumu’s side ended up winning the match 2-1 thanks to 79th minute goal from Junya Ito.

Ivorian forward Oumar Diakité had put Stade de Reims ahead in the third minute before Arthur Atta equalized for FC Metz.

The results helped Okumu’s club climb to position nine in the French Ligue 1 log, with eight fixtures remaining to the end of the French Ligue 1 season.

Stade de Reims are currently five points away from securing a UEFA Champions League spot.

Esse Akida on the scoresheet as PAOK pick huge win

Harambee Starlets forward Esse Mbeyu Akida was one of the PAOK FC stars who found the back of the net in a Greece Women’s Super League clash against Sirens Grevena.

The win ensured PAOK FC maintained their lead at the top of the table with 54 points, nine more than the second-placed side OFI Crete Football Club.

ALSO READ: Bonphas Munyasa: How Murang'a Seal keeper rose from double rejection to Harambee Stars selection

Reacting after the match, an excited Akida expressed her delight in the match where she came up against compatriots Dorcas Shikobe and Topista Situma.

“Happy to have been on the scoresheet in our 3-0 win over Sirens Grevena. Glad to have had the armband and met familiar faces in the opposing end in Dorcas Shikobe and Topista Situma,” her statement read.

Tyler Onyango tastes defeat with Everton

Kenyan prospect Tyler Onyango clocked the full 90 minutes for the Everton FC U21 side in their 2-0 defeat to Wolves.

Onyango received a yellow card in the 77th minute of the game but his coach saw it fit to allow him complete the game.

ALSO READ: UK Ambassador explains plans to avert repeat of Mariga's botched move to Man City

Tyler Roberts scored a brace for the visitors, finding the back of the net in the 11th and 66th minute of the clash.

Everton currently occupy position 21 in the Premier League 2 standings with 15 points, 23 behind leaders Tottenham Hotspur.

Amos Nondi suffers defeat in Armenia

Finally, Harambee Stars holding midfielder Amos Nondi was in action on Friday night in FC Ararat-Armenia’s painful 1-0 away loss to Noah FC in the Armenian Premier League.

Nondi, who is expected to link up with Harambee Stars ahead of the four-nation tournament scheduled to kick off in Malawi later this week, played for 81 minutes before he was substituted.

Dutch forward Paul Gladon scored the goal for the hosts in the 77th minute of the evenly contested encounter.

Alwyn Tera, another Kenyan player, who players for FC Ararat-Armenia did not feature in the game and was not even in the match day squad.

ALSO READ: SportPesa launch revolutionary Tujiamini Initiative to nurture talent