Harambee Stars player explains why he swapped shirts with AS Roma defender
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Reading Time: 3min | Wed. 29.10.25. | 17:46
Omija admitted that he was a great fan of Ndicka since his days at Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt
Harambee Stars defender, Alphonce Omija, was spotted deep in conversation with AS Roma centre back, Evan Ndicka, during Kenya's final 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier game played on Tuesday, 14 October at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium.
Despite the torrential downpour that had rendered the pitch virtually unplayable in the closing stages of the second half, and the burning urge to join teammates in celebrating the return ticket to the FIFA World Cup, Ndicka still found time to engage Omija.
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Ndicka and his Ivory Coast teammates had brushed aside Harambee Stars 3-0 to book a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals, to be co-hosted by the United States of America, Mexico and Canada.
Although there was limited visibility due to the inclement weather, other Ivorian star players were seen chatting with their Kenyan counterparts before breaking into song and dance to celebrate the World Cup qualification.
Mozzart Sport reached out to Omija to gather his takeaways from their conversation with Ndicka, a respected left-footed central defender, who helped Ivory Coast clinch the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title last year.
Omija revealed that he exchanged shirts with the Roma man, conceding that his style of play and composure throughout the game were good enough to prompt him to request a jersey swap.
"We did not have an extraordinary conversation. It was the usual good-luck career wishes. I requested a shirt swap, and he accepted. The reason why I sought to engage him was the way he anchored the back line and how composed he was.
Although I do not play on the left side of the central defence, I still picked up lessons from his style of play," opened up Omija.
The former Gor Mahia defender further admitted that he was a big fan of Ndicka since his days with Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt.
Ndicka ditched the German side for Roma in June 2023, at a time when he was in demand across Europe, as Arsenal were reportedly among the top clubs that were in pursuit of his signature.
"He is a modern defender who has achieved a lot both at club level and with the national team. He is one of my favourite defenders," said the former Kariobangi Sharks player.
Meanwhile, Omija opened up on what Ndicka's jersey adds to his growing collection, which is largely made up of pieces from his Harambee Stars counterparts.
He disclosed that Stars captain Michael Olunga, defenders Michael Kibwage and Sylvester Owino, and midfielders Ben Stanley and Chrispine Erambo were among the players with whom he had previously swapped shirts.
"Meeting him after the match meant a lot. His shirt definitely adds a unique touch and variety to my collection," added the Etoile du Sahel man.
