On his comeback from a slight injury that had kept him out of two matchday squads, Harambee Stars defender Joseph Okumu helped his KAA Gent side to a clean sheet and all three points on offer as the Belgian outfit recorded a 2-0 win against Arnothosis Famagusta in a UEFA Europa Conference League group stage match played at the Ghelamco Arena on Thursday evening.Upon his return to fitness, the lanky defender was slotted straight back into the first eleven as Gent went searching for a second win in two games in the third tier European club competition.Our starting XI tonight against @anorthosisfc! #COBW #gntano #UECL pic.twitter.com/OvGGokqjfm— KAA Gent (@KAAGent) September 30, 2021 After failing to secure a victory in their last three matches, Okumu’s return to the side would be met with good tidings as a first half own goal from Pavlos Korrea after tidy work from Gent’s Tarik Tissoudali followed by a second goal from captain Sven Kums ensured The Buffalo’s winning start in the group stages remained intact.6 op 6! 👊🏻 #COBW #gntano #UECL pic.twitter.com/gLJFwTGLNk— KAA Gent (@KAAGent) September 30, 2021 In featuring for the full duration of the win against the side from Cyprus, Okumu made history as he became the first Kenyan to feature in the group stages of the inaugural competition. In the opening group stage match against Flora Talinn, Okumu was named in the matchday squad but was an unused substitute in the 0-1 victory.Harambee Stars and KAA Gent defender Joseph Okumu is the first Kenyan to play in the group stages of the UEFA Europa Conference League.He featured for the full 90 in a 2-0 win against Anorthosis Famagusta (Cypria). History. pic.twitter.com/D7KkXIdz8H— OptaKe (@ke_opta) September 30, 2021 The win now puts Gent joint top with Partizan Belgrade, their opponents in the next matchday of the Conference League.
