STARS ABROAD: Two Harambee Stars prospects earn Premier League promotion with Hull City
Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 23.05.26. | 21:03
The Tigers booked their place in the 2026/2027 Premier League campaign following a dramatic 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough in the Championship playoff final at Wembley Stadium
Harambee Stars prospects Eliot Matazo and Sammy Henia-Kamau are set to be part of the English Premier League next season after Hull City secured promotion on Saturday evening.
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The Tigers booked their place in the 2026/2027 Premier League campaign following a dramatic 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough in the Championship playoff final at Wembley Stadium.
Oli McBurnie scored the decisive goal deep into stoppage time to send Hull City back to the English top flight alongside Coventry City and Ipswich Town.
The playoff final came amid the controversial “Spygate” saga that has dominated headlines in English football over recent weeks.
Southampton, who had initially beaten Middlesbrough in the semi-finals, were expelled from the playoffs by the English Football League after being found guilty of illegally spying on opponents.
That opened the door for Hull City, who only confirmed their final opponents days before the Wembley showdown, before eventually edging past Middlesbrough in a tense encounter played under scorching conditions.
McBurnie emerged as the hero after Middlesbrough goalkeeper Sol Brynn spilt a dangerous cross into his path in added time, sparking wild celebrations among the Hull supporters.
Hull City also made history by becoming the first side since Blackpool in 2010 to finish sixth in the Championship and still win promotion through the playoffs.
Remarkably, the Tigers went through both semi-final legs and the final without conceding a single goal.
Hull owner Acun Ilicali had also threatened legal action before the match if his side missed out on promotion as the “Spygate” controversy continued to overshadow the playoffs.
For Kenya, the promotion presented an exciting development involving two promising Harambee Stars prospects linked with the club.
Belgian-born midfielder Matazo, who is eligible to represent Kenya internationally, is currently recovering from a ruptured ACL injury.
The midfielder could now return to action with Hull City preparing for life among England’s elite clubs.
Meanwhile, highly rated youngster Henia-Kamau continues to rise steadily within the club’s ranks after impressing with Hull City’s U21 side.
The Kenyan prospect is viewed as one for the future and has already earned a call-up to the Harambee Stars squad for the upcoming June international friendlies.
Hull City had sealed their place in the playoff final after defeating Millwall 2-0 on aggregate in the semi-finals before completing their fairytale return to the Premier League at Wembley.