Panic As Kenyan Football Stars Stranded In Lebanon Amid Israeli Bombardment
Austine Odhiambo is among three Kenyan football stars who are currently stuck in Lebanon amid a deteriorating security situation in several Middle East countries, where the midfielder plies his trade.
The ongoing conflict in the Gulf took a twist on Monday, with Israel now targeting Beirut and the surrounding regions.
This has raised alarms among players in the region and families back home, with Lebanon being among the latest countries to be subjected to intensified airstrikes.
According to a report by Al Jazeera, Israeli forces bombed Beirut for a second consecutive day today, with deadly Israeli strikes on Beirut’s suburbs and southern Lebanon killing at least 52 people and injuring 154.
With the violence seeping into Lebanon, the safety of the trio of Kenyans playing for Lebanese club Nejmeh SC comes into focus.
Besides Odhiambo, who emerged as the standout performer at the African Nations Championships in August 2025, Nejmeh FC is also home to two other Kenyan players, Anthony Akumu and Masoud Juma.
Sports journalist Eric Njiru has since issued an update on the status of three Kenyan football stars in Lebanon after a conversation with former Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat, who happens to be the manager of Nejmeh FC.
According to the journalist, like many other civilians in Lebanon, the trio of football stars remain on edge, although they are currently based in central Beirut, where the situation is relatively calm compared to the southern suburbs that have witnessed heavy bombardment.
The latest developments have led to discussions about whether players should return home, with preliminary reports indicating the players are considering taking a flight away from Lebanon by Sunday, March 8, if the situation does not improve.
Escalation of battles in Lebanon comes amid a broader regional confrontation involving Israel and Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based paramilitary group.
Concern has been raised that the conflict could widen further across the Middle East, with foreign professionals in the countries, including athletes, facing an uncertain future.
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In Qatar, another Kenyan footballing gem, Michael Olunga, also faces uncertainty after the Qatar Football Association announced the suspension of matches for the foreseeable future.
Olunga plies his trade in Qatar with Al Arabi.
“Qatar Football Association announces the postponement of all tournaments, competitions and matches, effective from today and until further notice,” a statement from the association read over the weekend.
Qatar is particularly affected because it hosts the U.S. military’s largest air base in the Middle East, Al Udeid Air Base, a key hub for American operations across the region that has been targeted by Iranian missiles
Panic As Kenyan Football Stars Stranded In Lebanon Amid Israeli Bombardment
