Harambee Stars defender Joseph Okumu played the full 90 minutes in Stade de Reims’ 1-1 draw against Le Havre in a French Ligue 1 match on Sunday, January 19, 2025. Despite a spirited display, Reims extended their winless run to seven league matches, leaving them 13th in the standings with 21 points.
Reims opened the scoring in the 26th minute through Zimbabwean midfielder Marshall Munetsi. The goal resulted from a corner kick, as Le Havre’s André Ayew attempted a clearance that fell invitingly to Munetsi, who fired a powerful shot into the back of the net.
The home side created more opportunities to extend their lead before halftime but failed to convert, heading into the break with a slender advantage.
Le Havre, however, returned stronger in the second half, adjusting their approach to challenge Reims’ dominance. Their persistence paid off in the 67th minute when Senegalese center-back Arouna Sanganté equalized. The goal mirrored Reims’ opener, originating from a corner kick that the goalkeeper punched into Sanganté’s path, allowing the defender to calmly finish.
Reims maintained the same starting XI that faced Monaco earlier in the week, focusing on building play against a well-organized Le Havre defense. However, their inability to secure a win highlights the challenges facing the team in breaking their poor run of form.
As the season progresses, Okumu and his teammates will need to regroup and find solutions to return to winning ways, with the club seeking to climb the Ligue 1 table.
