Elfsborg’s club manager, Stefan Andreasson, has commented on Timothy Ouma’s absence from the Kenyan national team, Harambee Stars, during their AFCON 2025 qualifiers.

Despite being released to join the squad, Ouma has not reported for duty, missing both the Zimbabwe match last Friday and the upcoming game against Namibia.

ALSO READ: Timothy Ouma Goes AWOL On Harambee Stars Despite Being Released By Swedish Club

Andreasson clarified that Elfsborg had allowed Ouma time off for personal reasons before the international break. Speaking to Swedish football portal Fotbollskanalen, Andreasson stated, “We gave him time off from the Sunday before the national team meeting to go home and sort out some personal matters, and then come back to us after the national team break.”

When asked about Ouma’s absence from the national team, Andreasson noted that it was not Elfsborg’s responsibility: “What has happened in the discussions between Timothy and Kenya is not our issue… We have been in contact, and he is on his way back here fairly soon.”

European Transfer Interest Unsettling Ouma

Passion Sports can also exclusively reveal that Ouma’s situation may be linked to recent transfer interest from top European clubs, which has reportedly unsettled the 20-year-old midfielder. Ligue 1 side AS Saint-Étienne and a leading club in the Czech Republic made offers for Ouma, with one bid reportedly nearing Ksh 750 million (SEK 60 million). However, Elfsborg rejected the offers, leading to frustration on the player’s part.

Sources close to the situation indicate that Ouma is eager to make a move to Europe, and the rejection of these offers may have contributed to his failure to report for national team duty.

When asked about the transfer offers, Andreasson downplayed the situation, saying, “I can say that there was not much that was true in that article,” referring to the reported transfer figures.

Ouma’s Future Remains Uncertain

Ouma, who has four international caps for Kenya, is contracted with Elfsborg until 2026. Despite the mounting interest from European clubs, Elfsborg appears determined to retain him, at least for now. However, with the player seemingly unsettled by the situation, his future at the Swedish club remains unclear.

For Harambee Stars, Ouma’s absence has been a significant blow, especially as they prepare for the critical AFCON qualifier against Namibia tomorrow. Both the national team and Football Kenya Federation (FKF) remain in the dark about his situation, with FKF Media Officer Ken Okaka stating, “The best person to answer this is the player himself.”