Harambee Stars trio in action as Nejmeh cruises into Lebanese Cup final

Masud Juma, Anthony Akumu and Austin Odhiambo were all in the starting lineup as Nejmeh SC edged past Jwayya FC to book their place in the Lebanese Cup final on Wednesday night.

The semi final clash ended 1-1 in regular time before Nejmeh held their nerve to win 4-3 in the ensuing penalty shootout, sealing a hard fought victory that keeps their silverware ambitions alive.

The Harambee Stars trio has become a steady engine in Nejmeh’s 2025–26 campaign, blending grit, composure and attacking spark. Against Jwayya, they once again formed the spine of the side in a tense encounter where margins were razor thin and every duel carried the weight of a season.

The result capped a strong week for the Beirut based club, who currently sit third in the Lebanese Premier League table with 28 points from 14 matches. Nejmeh have registered eight wins, four draws and just two defeats, boasting a healthy +16 goal difference.

They trail leaders Al Ansar FC by seven points, with Al Ansar on 35 and Al Ahed FC second on 30. Jwayya, the very side they eliminated from the Cup, sit fourth with 23 points.

Nejmeh’s recent league form has been competitive if not flawless. They drew 1-1 with Shabab Al Sahel on February 7, narrowly lost 1-0 to Safa SC on January 31, and battled to a 0-0 stalemate against Al Ansar on January 25.

Notably, they had earlier edged Al Ansar 1-0 on January 18 in a statement victory that signaled their title credentials.

Adding intrigue to the narrative is the arrival of Engin Firat, the trio’s former Harambee Stars head coach, who was appointed Nejmeh manager on February 8. The reunion has already yielded dividends, with the Cup final berth serving as an early reward.

With a domestic final now on the horizon and a title race still within reach, the Kenyan contingent continues to fly the flag high in Lebanon, turning Nejmeh’s season into a story written with both ambition and resolve.