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Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat has given the estimated time frame for Masoud Juma's return to the national team set up, having sat out the last nine months with an achilles injury.
Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat has provided an estimated timeframe for the return of Masoud Juma, the Saudi Arabia-based striker, who is back in full training after being sidelined for eight months due to an Achilles injury.
Juma, who plays for Al-Jabalain, was spotted training with the Kenyan national team last Friday as they began preparations for their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) doubleheader qualifier against Cameroon at the Police Sacco Stadium in South C.
Despite his involvement in the early stages of the training camp, Juma was absent from Harambee Stars' final training session on Wednesday.
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Masoud Juma suffered an unfortunate achilles tendon rupture last February, which has forced him to stay on the sidelines for close to nine months.
The forward, who missed the last three international windows, has been working on his fitness with individual training sessions for both club and country. His recent efforts included joining Al-Jabalain's pre-season tour to Egypt, as he looks to regain full match fitness.
Juma’s last appearance for Kenya came in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, where he scored during the team’s 5-1 victory over Seychelles. His most recent outing for Al-Jabalain was in February, where he netted in a 2-0 win over Al Jandal.
Speaking about Juma’s progress, coach Firat explained his decision to include the forward in the training camp despite his omission from the preliminary squad list.
"Masoud, you also saw that he was not in the preliminary squad list... We wanted to see exactly which shape he was in, what is missing, so I invited him here to be with the team,” Firat said.
The Turkish tactician expressed optimism about Juma’s recovery but acknowledged that there is still work to be done before he returns to full form.
“It's, I think, also a motivation and a big boost for Masoud to be back like this. He looks good, but there are some parts still missing, and I gave him a program about what is needed to get back to full fitness," Firat added.
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The coach also hinted at a potential return for Juma in the near future, saying, "I hope that Masoud will be maybe next month with us."
Juma has frequently been Kenya's second-choice striker behind captain Michael Olunga, occasionally partnering with him in attack by playing on either flank. His return would provide a timely boost for the Harambee Stars as they aim to secure qualification for the 2025 AFCON.
With his fitness steadily improving, Masoud Juma's comeback could add crucial depth to Kenya’s attacking options as they prepare for the challenges ahead.
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