Alphonce Omija (C) during a training session with Harambee Stars at Nyayo Stadium/HANDOUT
The high-profile move to North Africa follows an impressive show at the 2024 African Nations
Championship (CHAN).
The centreback pairing of Omija, Sylvester Owino and Michael
Kibwage stood firm as Kenya conceded only two goals, en route to the quarterfinals, where they fell to Madagascar on penalties.
Omija's solid display saw Kenya secure three wins
against eventual winners Morocco, two-time champions DR Congo and Zambia while
drawing against Angola in the group stages to finish top of Group 'A' with 10 points
Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy confirmed the move in
his pre-match press conference ahead of Tuesday's World Cup qualifier against Seychelles.
"Yeah, we had one other player leave the camp. I okayed
one player to leave the camp because it was an opportunity for him to join a
club in Tunisia. They had a short window, and the window was closing, and if
the player did not do the medicals, he would miss the chance. So it was only
the right thing for me to do to allow the player to join the club, a decent
Tunisia side, and that is Alphonce Omija, so he won't be available for
selection tomorrow (Tuesday)," said McCarthy.
Omija crowned his CHAN tournament with a goal in the quarterfinals against Madagascar before missing his spot kick as Stars were knocked
out 4-3 after a 1-1 draw in extra time.
With rumours of his Tunisia move rife during CHAN, Omija, who is believed to have been scouted after the group stage
matches, brushed off the talks and said he was concentrating on the tournament.
“CHAN is the most important thing for me now, the team, and
the country. Once CHAN is over, I will then focus on my club football and plans
for the next season,” said Omija.
Omija, who can play at rightback, centreback and in midfield, came through Gor Mahia's youth ranks and made his senior debut
in 2019 before moving to Kariobangi Sharks and then Oman.
The 23-year-old rejoined K'Ogalo from the Omani
side Dhofar SC on July 10, 2024, on a two-year deal.
Gor Mahia's Administrative Secretary, Ronald Ngala, said Omija underwent his medicals on Tuesday.
“The North Africans are always very strict on medicals before
concluding the deal, and as a club we
can’t delve much into details on the
duration and sign-on fee, but his agents will furnish us with the information immediately
they’re done,” said Ngala.
Omija won the Premier League with Gor in the 2024 season and played a pivotal role in the 2025 season, despite finishing second to Police FC and falling 2-1 to newbies Nairobi United in the FKF Cup final.
