Harambee Stars Prospects One Win Away from EPL Promotion as Hull City Reach Playoff Final

Kenyan prospects Eliot Matazo and Sammy Henia-Kamau could be playing in the English Premier League next season after their club Hull City made it to the playoff final.

Hull City beat Millwall 2-0 on aggregate in the playoff semi-final, scoring both goals in the second leg on Monday night, as they booked a place in the final, where they will play either Southampton or Middlesbrough for the final Premier League promotion place.

The Tigers left it late with Mohamed Belloumi breaking the deadlock in the 64th minute before Joe Gelhardt sealed the victory 11 minutes from time.

It keeps Hull City’s hopes of getting back to the Premier League for the first time since 2017 when they suffered relegation, having finished 18th.

Both Matazo and Henia-Kamau were, however, not involved in the playoff semi-finals with the former nursing a long-term injury.

Matazo suffered a fresh anterior cruciate ligament injury in April and will be out for several months, the setback coming just 10 minutes inside his first game of the season against Charlton Athletic.

It was Matazo’s first game since February 2025, having suffered the same injury but to his left knee on that occasion. Matazo, who was born in Belgium, is eligible to represent Kenya through his mother.

Meanwhile, Henia-Kamau plays for Hull City’s U21 side and is knocking on the door of the first team. He has made 12 appearances for Hull City U21 team this season, scoring four goals.

Born to an English mother and Kenyan father, the player, who joined Hull City in August 2025 from Swansea City, is eligible to play for Harambee Stars.

Hully City will play the playoff final on May 23, seeking to join already promoted Coventry City and Ipswich Town in the Premier League for the 2026-27 season.