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Timothy Ouma
Timothy Noor Babu Ouma (born 10 June 2004) is a Kenyan professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Swedish Allsvenskan club IF Elfsborg, and the Kenya national team.[1] Club careerBabu joined Nairobi City Stars in July 2020[2][3][4] right after completing his studies at Laiser Hill Academy on an initial three-year deal. He topped up on his stay in September 2021 with an additional two years [5] to June 2025 after his debut season where he featured in 24 of the 34 games in the 2020-21 Kenyan Premier League. Timothy was handed his Kenyan Premier League debut on 29 Nov 2020 by head coach Sanjin Alagic after being introduced in the 83rd minute in a season opener against Nzoia Sugar in Narok. He scored his debut premier goal in the opening game of 2021/22 Premier league season against Sofapaka in Wundanyi on 26 September 2021. He went on to score in the next two games against Kenya Police and Wazito.[6] He added four more goals against Kakamega Homeboyz, Bandari, AFC Leopards, and Gor Mahia to end the season with seven goals. In mid-July 2022 he was signed up by Swedish top-tier side IF Elfsborg. He joined the club a month later[7][8][9] after his official transfer from Nairobi City Stars. Ouma earned his debut in the Swedish topflight, the Allsvenskan on 31 Oct 2022 at the Borås Arena during a matchday 29 tie against Helsingborg after coming on as a substitute in what was his only game in the 2022 season. He went on to feature in another four games in the 2023 season.[10] His first start, and complete Allsvenskan game, was against champions Malmo at the same venue in matchday seven of the 2024 season on 5 May 2024.[11] He scored his first ever Allsvenskan goal on 19 Sept 2024 as 10-man IF Elfsborg rallied to tie visiting IFK Norrköping 2-2 at the Boras Stadium in a matchday 23 tie.[12] International careerIn late October 2021, Babu received a Kenya national football team call up[13] from head coach Engin Firat[14] for two final World Cup qualifier against Uganda[15][16][17][18] and Rwanda. Babu made his debut for Kenya on 11 November 2021 in a World Cup qualifier against Uganda after coming on as a 72nd minute substitute.[19] He earned his second cap[20] four days later on 15 November 2021 in a World Cup qualifier against Rwanda after being introduced in the 80th minute.[21] He featured in an international friendly against South Sudan in Moi International Sports Centre on 23 Sep 2023, and went on to make his debut in 2026 World Cup qualifiers after making a cameo appearance against Gabon at the Stade de Franceville on 16 Nov 2023,[22] and added another game on 20 Nov 2023 against Seychelles at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan.[23] He then dropped down to feature for the Kenya U20[24] during an invitational tournament in Lilongwe, Malawi, in March 2024. He featured in two games against Zimbabwe, and hosts Malawi. He scaled back up to the Kenya senior team in June 2024 and earned his first start in a 2026 World Cup qualifiers tie against Burundi[25] in Malawi, and followed it up with another one against African champions Ivory Coast.[26] International Games
Europa leagueOn the 11 July 2024, Ouma earned 63 minutes on his Europa League debut as IF Elfsborg hosted Cyprian side Pafos FC in a first leg qualifying round tie at the Borås Arena. He scored his maiden Europa league goal[27] in the reverse game played away to Pafos on 18 July 2024 to become only the second Kenyan to score at that stage after Robert Mambo Mumba who achieved the same on 15 Sep 2005 while turning out for Norwegian side Viking FK during the 2005–06 UEFA Cup first round. On 25 Sept 2024 he followed in the footsteps of Mambo in featuring in the Europa League group stage as IF Elfsborg took on Dutch side AZ Alkmaar. He set up a rare history by becoming the first Kenyan to score, as well as provide an assist at that level, as his side went down 3-2 in the match.[28] HonoursIF Elfsborg
Career statistics
References
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