Livingston midfielder Stephane Omeonga says he is aiming to play his part in getting the Lions back to Hampden on cup duty - and is desperate to make his first appearance at the National Stadium, having missed out on a semi-final appearance two years ago.
The Belgian midfielder was part of the Hibernian side that made it to the Scottish Cup’s penultimate round in 2020, but had departed the club by the time Hibs faced city rivals Hearts in a covid delayed semi-final that October.
He said: “I helped Hibs get to the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden in 2020, and scored against Inverness in the quarter-final. But I was denied the chance to play at Hampden because of covid.
“Obviously worse things were happening at that time other than football but it was disappointing”.
Omeonga added: “I have never played there, and the only time I was actually there was for a heart scan as part of a medical. So to actually play there would be amazing and it is a goal for me.
“Every player wants to play at that kind of stadium, and that stage of football. I would love to play in a semi-final, especially now with the fans being allowed back in”.
One colleague Omeonga has discussed the experience of lifting silverware at Hampden with is assistant manager Marvin Bartley. The former Hibernian midfielder was part of the Hibs side that lifted the Scottish Cup in 2016.
He added: “I have been speaking to Marvin about it and he knows what Hampden is like when it is full for a final, and he said it was incredible.
“He’s been telling me stories about playing there and he won the Scottish Cup, and he has been winding me up about not winning anything. But the goal for everyone is to lift silverware and it would be great.
"It would mean so much to me to run out for a game at Hampden and it would be a big achievement for us to get there. We did it a few years ago so it can be done. We take it one game at a time and we can’t look too far ahead as we have to get through another two games before we can get there.
"We have to make sure we take care of Dundee United and then we can properly think about it.”
Don't miss the latest news from the West Lothian Courier. Sign up to our free newsletter here
