Timothy Ouma

Timothy Noor Ouma

Personal information
Full name	Timothy Noor Ouma
Date of birth	(2004-06-10) 10 June 2004 (age 20)
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

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]

Club career

Babu 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

In 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

As of 16 Oct 2024

Kenya
Year	Apps	Goals
2021	2	0
2023	3	0
2024	6	0
Total	11	0

Europa league

On 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

IF Elfsborg

• Allsvenskan U21 winner: 2022 ^[29]
• Allsvenskan runner-up: 2023

Career statistics

As of 16 Oct 2024 ^[30]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

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	19	1	1 [b]	0	9 [c]	2	–		29	3
Career total			80	8	4	0	9	2	0	0	93	10

1. FKF President's Cup
2. Svenska Cupen
3. Europa League

References

1. Timothy Ouma NFT profile
2. Goal, Aug 21, 2020: Ouma: Nairobi City Stars seal signing of teenage midfielder
3. The-Star, Aug 27, 2020: City Stars continue strengthening as teenager Ouma signs long-term deal
4. Futaa, Aug 21, 2020: Nairobi City Stars snaps up Laiser Hill midfielder Ouma
5. Nairobi City Stars, Sept 2, 2021: Timothy Ouma extends City Stars stay
6. Mozzart Sport, 21 Oct 2021 Babu sets targets after terrific start
7. The-Star, 24 Aug 2022 City Stars'prodigy Ouma joins Swedish top-tier side
8. Goal, 24 Aug 2022 Timothy Ouma: IF Elfsborg confirm signing of Kenya youngster from Nairobi City Stars
9. Capital FM, 24 Aug 2022 Talented Ex City Stars midfielder Timothy ‘Babu’ Ouma follows Okumu’s footsteps, joins Elfsborg
10. Mozzart Sport, 15 May 2023 More minutes for Babu in Sweden
11. Pulse Sport, 11 May 2024 Harambee Stars wonderkid Timothy Ouma hungry for more Elfsborg starts
12. Pulse Sport, 20 Sep 2024 Timothy Ouma on target as Elfsborg fight back against IFK Norrkoping in Allsvenskan clash
13. Nairobi City Stars, Nov 1, 2021: Timothy Ouma receives Kenya National team callup
14. The-Star, Nov 3, 2021: City Stars' Ouma elated by national team call up
15. Goal, Nov 10, 2021: Rookie Ouma named in Harambee Stars final squad for Uganda match
16. Nation, Nov 10, 2021: Two rookies in final Harambee Stars squad for Uganda World Cup qualifier
17. FKF, Nov 10, 2021: Tera, Babu named in Harambee Stars final squad for Uganda World Cup Qualifier
18. Nairobi City Stars, Nov 10, 2021: Ouma in Kenya team to face Uganda
19. "Uganda v Kenya game report". FIFA. 11 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
20. Nairobi City Stars, Nov 16, 2021: Ouma earns second Kenyan cap against Rwanda
21. "Kenya v Rwanda game report". FIFA. 15 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
22. "Gabon v Kenya game report". FIFA. 16 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
23. "Seychelles v Kenya game report". FIFA. 20 November 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
24. Mozzart Sport, 21 Mar 2024 Joshua Onyango, Timothy Ouma included in Kenya U20 final squad to Malawi
25. Capital News, 7 Jun 2024 Miheso, Babu start as Firat names squad to take on Burundi
26. Pulse Sport, 12 Jun 2024 Firat heaps praise on Timothy Ouma & Rooney Onyango following impressive Ivory Coast displays
27. Pepeta, 18 Jul 2024 Timothy Ouma scores as Elfsborg progress in Europa League Qualifiers
28. Pulse Sport, 25 Sep 2024 Stars midfielder nets maiden Europa League goal for Elfsborg despite defeat to AZ Alkmaar
29. Mozzart Sport, 12 Oct 2022 Timothy Ouma lifts maiden title in Sweden
30. Timothy Ouma, Global Sports Archive

External links

• Timothy Ouma at National-Football-Teams.com
• Timothy Ouma at Global Sports Archive
• Timothy Ouma @UEFA*