Harambee Stars defender Joseph Okumu ruled out of Gent’s Conference League clash

Kenyan international Joseph Okumu will not play any part in Gent’s Thursday clash against Turkish outfit Basaksehir in the UEFA Europa Conference League.

This is after the dependable Harambee Stars centre back was not included in the matchday squad as a result of his injury picked up in a league game against Club Brugge towards the end of February.

In that match, the former Chemelil Sugar defender had to be substituted at half time after going down minutes to the interval in the game they ended up losing 2-0.

In being omitted from the squad, Okumu will be missing his second match after not playing in the team’s 1-0 league victory against Anderlecht over the weekend.

In the match set to be played at the Ghelamco Arena, Gent will be looking to get the perfect start in the first leg matchup where the overall winner of the two legged tie will book their place in the quarterfinals.

The team will also be looking to go one step better as they were eliminated from last season’s competition in the Round of 16 stage.

Having eliminated Qarabağ on penalties in the last round, the Buffalos face the Turkish opponents with encouragement from the last and only time they met a Süper Lig side as they recorded a 2-0 win at home win and a 1-0 away against Konyaspor in the 2016/17 Europa League group stage, performances they will be hoping to replicate in their quarterfinal quest.

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Basaksehir will however be confident about their European forays as they topped Group A ahead of Fiorentina to book their Round of 16 spot without needing an extra round to qualify.

Their boss Emre Belözoğlu is has backed his team, saying: "We want to continue our progress in the league, cup and Conference League. We are strong enough to get through this round."

The match kicks off at 2300EAT.

Full fixtures

AEK Larnaca vs West Ham

Anderlecht vs Villareal

Sheriff Tiraspol vs Nice

Basel vs Slavan Bratislava

Fiorentina vs Sivasspor

Gent vs Basaksehir

Lech Poznan vs Djurgarden