In Summary:
- Nairobi United beat Mara Sugar 3-1 on penalties (1-1 full-time) to reach the FKF Cup final, where they’ll face Gor Mahia.
- The winner of the final gets Ksh 2 million and a spot in the CAF Confederation Cup.
- The semifinal saw late goals and strong saves, ending in a tense shootout at Dandora Stadium.
Nairobi United clinched their spot in the FKF Cup final after a dramatic 3-1 penalty shootout victory over Mara Sugar, following a 1-1 draw in normal time. This exciting semifinal, held at Dandora Stadium, moves Nairobi United closer to winning Ksh 2 million and qualifying for the CAF Confederation Cup. Their impressive cup run, which includes beating top-tier teams, continues as they now prepare to face Gor Mahia in what promises to be a historic final.
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Nairobi United’s Impressive Journey to the Final
Nairobi United has had an outstanding performance throughout the Mozzart Bet Cup tournament. They have successfully eliminated strong teams in earlier rounds: Tusker FC, KCB FC, and Kakamega Homeboyz.
Their cup journey began with a 3-1 victory in the Round of 64. Against Tusker FC, they drew 1-1 during regular play before winning the penalty shootout 5-4.
In the Round of 16, they played to a 0-0 draw with KCB and then won the shootout 6-5. They secured their spot in the quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over Kakamega Homeboyz.
This season has also seen Nairobi United earn promotion to the FKF Premier League for the 2025/26 season. They are currently leading the National Super League with 62 points, showing their readiness for higher-level competition.
Coach Nicholas Muyoti praised his team’s determination, stating, “We fought hard and deserved this.”
Mara Sugar’s Valiant Effort Falls Short
Mara Sugar demonstrated a strong fight in the Mozzart Bet Cup, even though they have faced a challenging season in the FKF Premier League, where they are in 13th place with 35 points.
They achieved significant upsets against Webuye Sportiff, AFC Leopards, Compel FC, and Kenya Police FC to reach the semifinal stage.
Their victory over AFC Leopards came after a 0-0 draw and a disputed referee’s call, with the Sports Dispute Tribunal ultimately awarding them the win. They defeated Compel FC 2-0 and then narrowly beat Kenya Police 9-8 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw.
In Sunday’s match, Mara Sugar’s goalkeeper Evans Omondi made crucial saves during regular play, but his team could not secure the win in the penalty shootout against Nairobi United.
Coach Benedict Wanjala commented, “We gave it our all, but penalties are tough.”
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Key Moments of the Semifinal Match
The first half of the match was tightly contested, with neither team managing to score. Nairobi United’s attacking players, Isaac Omweri, Duncan Omala, and Frank Ouya, made strong efforts but were unable to find the back of the net.
Mara Sugar’s defense, led by their goalkeeper Evans Omondi, proved very solid. In the second half, Nairobi United began to take control.
Substitute Michael Karamor scored in the 54th minute from a corner kick, causing loud cheers from the home crowd.
However, Mara Sugar quickly responded. Lameck Omondi scored a spectacular goal from outside the penalty area just four minutes later, leveling the score at 1-1. Both teams pushed for a winning goal in the remaining time, but the match ultimately went to a penalty shootout.
Nairobi United’s John Otieno, Brian Ogutu, and Rodgers Angal successfully scored their penalties, while Mara Sugar only managed one successful shot from Fredrick Ng’iela.
Nairobi United’s victory sets up an exciting final match against Gor Mahia, giving them a chance to make club history.
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