Kenya defender Joseph Okumu relegated with Reims in French Ligue 1

Photo Credit – Reims.

Kenya national team and Harambee Stars vice-captain Joseph Okumu will play in French Ligue 2 next season after his club Stade de Reims got relegated to the second tier.

Reims suffered a 3-1 defeat in a relegation playoff to now newly promoted Metz Fc at Stade Auguste-Delaune II on Thursday. Reims were fighting to preserve their Ligue 1 status but fell short in the two-legged promotion/relegation playoff.

After a 1-1 draw in the first leg, the return fixture on Thursday also ended 1-1 in regulation time. Metz then pulled away in extra time, scoring twice to win 3-1 on the night and 4-2 on aggregate, condemning Reims to second-tier football next season.

Okumu has played club football for Chemelil Sugar, Free State Stars and AFC Ann Arbor. At AFC Ann Arbor he made eight league appearances in the 2018 season. On 16 August 2018, Okumu signed for USL Championship side Real Monarchs before he transferred to Swedish Allsvenskan side IF Elfsborg for an undisclosed fee in 2019.

He signed for Belgian club Gent on 21 June 2021 for €3.5 million before he moved to Reims on July 22, 2023.

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