Harambee Stars striker set for Conference League as his club ends 37-year wait for European football

Harambee Stars striker Jonah Ayunga will have a taste of European football next season after his club St Mirren sealed Europa Conference League qualification.

Saints have qualified for European competition for the first time since 1987 after securing a fifth place finish in the Scottish Premiership.

Stephen Robinson's men have sat in the European positions for the entire season and will now look forward to Europa Conference League action in July and August.

The Buddies will enter the second qualifying round of the Conference League. The draw will take place on June 19 with the fixtures to be played on July 25 and August 1.

It is a major achievement for the club who endured a difficult spell in the middle of the season.

It has, however, been a difficult season for Ayunga who managed just two goals in a campaign hampered by injuries.

The striker missed a large part of the season after a nine-month absence after undergoing surgery on his knee and returned in November, managing 12 games for St Mirren, but suffered a setback again early this month when he had another operation on the knee.

The latest injury will keep him out of Harambee Stars 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Burundi and Ivory Coast next month but his club will be hoping that he recovers in time for the new season which will start early given their European commitments.

Ayunga, who joined Saints from English side Morecambe in summer 2022 on an original two-year deal, had his contract extended by a further year, after bagging 12 goals for St Mirren in his debut campaign in 2022-23 but his injury record does not bode well for his future at the club.

St Mirren will complete their season with an away clash against champions Celtic on Saturday.

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