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]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Timothy Noor Ouma | ||
| Date of birth | 10 June 2004 | ||
| Place of birth | Nairobi, Kenya | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | IF Elfsborg | ||
| Number | 16 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2012–2017 | RYSA | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2020–2022 | Nairobi City Stars | 56 | (7) |
| 2022– | IF Elfsborg | 28 | (2) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2024– | Kenya U20 | 2 | (0) |
| 2021– | Kenya | 9 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13 Nov 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16 Oct 2024 | |||
Club career
editBabu 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 career
editIn 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
edit- As of 16 Oct 2024
| Kenya | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2021 | 2 | 0 |
| 2023 | 3 | 0 |
| 2024 | 6 | 0 |
| Total | 11 | 0 |
Europa league
editOn 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]
Honours
editIF Elfsborg
- Allsvenskan U21 winner: 2022[29]
- Allsvenskan runner-up: 2023
Career statistics
edit- As of 1 Dec 2024[30]
| Club | Season | League | Domestic cup | Europa League | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Nairobi City Stars | 2020–21 | Kenyan Premier League | 24 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 27 | 0 | |
| 2021–22 | Kenyan Premier League | 32 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 32 | 7 | ||
| IF Elfsborg | 2022 | Allsvenskan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | |
| 2023 | Allsvenskan | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2024 | Allsvenskan | 23 | 1 | 1[b] | 0 | 12[c] | 2 | – | 36 | 3 | ||
| Career total | 84 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 10 | ||
References
edit- ^ Timothy Ouma NFT profile
- ^ Goal, Aug 21, 2020: Ouma: Nairobi City Stars seal signing of teenage midfielder
- ^ The-Star, Aug 27, 2020: City Stars continue strengthening as teenager Ouma signs long-term deal
- ^ Futaa, Aug 21, 2020: Nairobi City Stars snaps up Laiser Hill midfielder Ouma
- ^ Nairobi City Stars, Sept 2, 2021: Timothy Ouma extends City Stars stay
- ^ Mozzart Sport, 21 Oct 2021 Babu sets targets after terrific start
- ^ The-Star, 24 Aug 2022 City Stars'prodigy Ouma joins Swedish top-tier side
- ^ Goal, 24 Aug 2022 Timothy Ouma: IF Elfsborg confirm signing of Kenya youngster from Nairobi City Stars
- ^ Capital FM, 24 Aug 2022 Talented Ex City Stars midfielder Timothy ‘Babu’ Ouma follows Okumu’s footsteps, joins Elfsborg
- ^ Mozzart Sport, 15 May 2023 More minutes for Babu in Sweden
- ^ Pulse Sport, 11 May 2024 Harambee Stars wonderkid Timothy Ouma hungry for more Elfsborg starts
- ^ Pulse Sport, 20 Sep 2024 Timothy Ouma on target as Elfsborg fight back against IFK Norrkoping in Allsvenskan clash
- ^ Nairobi City Stars, Nov 1, 2021: Timothy Ouma receives Kenya National team callup
- ^ The-Star, Nov 3, 2021: City Stars' Ouma elated by national team call up
- ^ Goal, Nov 10, 2021: Rookie Ouma named in Harambee Stars final squad for Uganda match
- ^ Nation, Nov 10, 2021: Two rookies in final Harambee Stars squad for Uganda World Cup qualifier
- ^ FKF, Nov 10, 2021: Tera, Babu named in Harambee Stars final squad for Uganda World Cup Qualifier
- ^ Nairobi City Stars, Nov 10, 2021: Ouma in Kenya team to face Uganda
- ^ "Uganda v Kenya game report". FIFA. 11 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ Nairobi City Stars, Nov 16, 2021: Ouma earns second Kenyan cap against Rwanda
- ^ "Kenya v Rwanda game report". FIFA. 15 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ "Gabon v Kenya game report". FIFA. 16 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
- ^ "Seychelles v Kenya game report". FIFA. 20 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
- ^ Mozzart Sport, 21 Mar 2024 Joshua Onyango, Timothy Ouma included in Kenya U20 final squad to Malawi
- ^ Capital News, 7 Jun 2024 Miheso, Babu start as Firat names squad to take on Burundi
- ^ Pulse Sport, 12 Jun 2024 Firat heaps praise on Timothy Ouma & Rooney Onyango following impressive Ivory Coast displays
- ^ Pepeta, 18 Jul 2024 Timothy Ouma scores as Elfsborg progress in Europa League Qualifiers
- ^ Pulse Sport, 25 Sep 2024 Stars midfielder nets maiden Europa League goal for Elfsborg despite defeat to AZ Alkmaar
- ^ Mozzart Sport, 12 Oct 2022 Timothy Ouma lifts maiden title in Sweden
- ^ Timothy Ouma, Global Sports Archive
External links
edit- Timothy Ouma at National-Football-Teams.com
- Timothy Ouma at Global Sports Archive
- Timothy Ouma @UEFA*