Ouma wears No. 14 with pride as he channels idol Olunga at U20 AFCON
On Thursday, Okoth, 19, made a grand debut on the continental stage by scoring Kenya's first goal in their U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group B opener against Morocco in Cairo, a match that Rising Stars ultimately lost 2-3.
Rising Stars striker Lawrence Ouma has revealed that he draws inspiration from his Harambee Stars counterpart, Michael Olunga, noting that he dons the number 14 jersey in honour of the Al Duhail SC centre forward.
On Thursday, Okoth, 19, made a grand debut on the continental stage by scoring Kenya's first goal in their U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group B opener against Morocco in Cairo, a match that Rising Stars ultimately lost 2-3.
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Speaking ahead of Stars’ 6:00 pm crunch tie against Tunisia on Sunday, the towering striker heaped praise on Olunga, describing the national team captain as a major source of inspiration.
“He is a big inspiration to me. That is why I wear the number 14 shirt for the team in his honour. He has not yet spoken to me during the tournament, but whenever we meet, he always encourages me and motivates me greatly," Ouma added.
Ouma also reflected on his first goal at the U20 AFCON tournament, noting that it lifted his spirits as he sets his eyes on the tournament’s golden boot.
“I thank God for giving me the strength to score my first AFCON goal. I feel good because it is my job to help the team score. It gives me confidence to compete for the golden boot, and having one goal is a good way to start,” said Ouma, who plays locally for Michael Olunga Football Academy (MOFA)—a football academy owned by Olunga.
Further, he acknowledged that while he has previously featured in regional competitions like CECAFA, U20 AFCON presents a whole new level of competition and exposure.
“It is my first experience at the AFCON. We already played in CECAFA, but this stage is different and I want to score many goals,” he said.
Looking ahead, Ouma hopes to one day secure a move to a top-tier club in one of Europe’s elite leagues, should he depart from MOFA.
“I want to play for one of the best teams in the top five European leagues if I ever leave MOFA," he said.
After facing Tunisia, the Rising Stars will conclude its group matches against Nigeria on May 7.
The top two teams from each of the three groups will advance to the quarter-finals, while the four teams that reach the semi-finals will automatically qualify for the U-20 World Cup set to take place in Chile later this year.
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