Harambee Stars Camp Rocked As Gor Mahia Defender Alphonce Omija Closes In On Tunisian Move

Gor Mahia’s Alphonce Omija is on the verge of joining Tunisian giants ES Sahel, after being granted permission by Kenya head coach Benni McCarthy to leave the Harambee Stars camp ahead of their dead rubber 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Seychelles on Tuesday evening.

Omija, one of Kenya’s standout performers at CHAN 2024 — which was co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania — departed the camp on Sunday to travel to Tunisia for a medical ahead of his prospective move.

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Speaking to the media from Kasarani Stadium on Monday, McCarthy highlighted how tournaments like CHAN can be transformative for players.

"It was an opportunity for him to join the club in Tunisia, and they had a very short window. The transfer window was closing, so if the player didn’t complete the medical, he would lose the opportunity," McCarthy said.

"From CHAN, I could see what these players did, so it was the right thing for me to give permission for the player to travel, do the medical, and make the move to a very good Tunisian side — that is Alphonce Omija. He left the camp yesterday, or the day before, to travel to Tunisia and take care of business."

The move represents a major step in Omija’s career. After rejoining Gor Mahia from Oman’s Dhofar in June 2024, he impressed during his one season back at K’Ogalo. 

Omija first rose to prominence with an outstanding debut for Kenya against Ivory Coast in Malawi, weeks before returning to Gor Mahia, where he initially played in 2019.

"Obviously, when you play football, you have the ambition to reach the highest level one day. You work hard every single day to get there," McCarthy reflected. 

"Then, when you find yourself working with a coach or technical team that helps you elevate even further, it’s incredibly rewarding. 

“Being able to make a player better, to change his life for himself and his family by giving him the opportunity and platform to reach a higher level and even go abroad, is priceless."

During the 2024 CHAN tournament, Omija started in two games for Kenya and came off the bench in two more, showcasing his impact on the national team.

Meanwhile, McCarthy also confirmed that Abud Omar will miss Tuesday’s clash against Seychelles after accumulating two yellow cards during the qualification campaign.

"Very fortunate — none of the players have picked up injuries. We do have one concern: Abud Omar is suspended for tomorrow’s game, so he’ll be missing. But other than that, everyone is okay and in good condition," McCarthy said.

Kenya now prepares to face Seychelles with a mostly healthy squad, while Omija’s prospective move to Tunisia adds a positive story to the Harambee Stars’ camp.