The Harambee Stars defender’s goal-scoring outing against Lyon secures him a spot in the Ligue 1 Team of the Week.
Joseph Okumu, a defender for Stade de Reims, has stood out in the French Ligue 1, earning a deserved place in the Team of the Week.
His remarkable performance for the club against Lyon last Saturday was highlighted by his first goal for the team, making him the second Kenyan after Dennis Oliech to score in France’s premier league.
With an impressive 8.1 rating on Sofascore, Okumu demonstrated his defensive skills and calmness on the field. Okumu joined a notable lineup that includes Monaco’s Alexander Golovin and Folarin Balogun, along with PSG’s Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and Portuguese midfielder Vitinha.
This recognition from the website isn’t new to Okumu. In 2020, he was listed in the team of the season for Sweden’s top league, a feat he replicated last season as a player for Belgium’s AA Gent, leading to his transfer to Will Still’s Reims.
This marks his third appearance in the team of the week. If he maintains this trajectory, a move to a larger club participating regularly in the Champions League could be on the horizon, and the statistics support this potential.
FB Ref identifies him as having a stylistic similarity to 10 other defenders in Europe, including Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate, Paris St-Germain’s Danilo Pereira – a Euro 2016 winner with Portugal – and AC Milan’s Malik Thiaw.
Looking forward, Stade de Reims is set to face Nice, known for its offensive capabilities and competitive nature.
Okumu’s role will be key as Reims aims to keep their momentum and continue ascending the Ligue 1 standings.
