Shabana stun Bandari as FKFPL title race heats up
Late goals, title pressure, and statement wins - Matchweek 26 of the FKF Premier League delivered it all. While Kenya Police and Tusker stumbled, Shabana FC lit up Gusii Stadium with a 3-1 victory over Bandari, adding fresh spice to the league run-in.
Matchweek 26 served up late drama, missed chances, and crucial points dropped and gained.
Kenya Police went into the weekend as league leaders, knowing Tusker were breathing down their necks. But their trip to Machakos Stadium ended in frustration after a goalless draw with Nairobi City Stars.
Clinton Kinanga, Mohammed Bajaber, and David Okoth were all lively in attack for Police, but their finishing let them down. The woodwork denied them once, and City Stars' keeper stood tall when called upon. The stalemate allowed Tusker to close the gap in the title race, leaving Police to rue missed chances.
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Shabana FC claimed a statement win at Gusii Stadium, dispatching Bandari 3-1 in front of their home fans. The hosts came out flying, and it didn’t take long to make their intentions clear.
Austine Odongo opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with a thunderous strike, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Bandari's keeper made crucial saves to keep the score down before the break, but the hosts took a deserved 1-0 lead into half-time.
Shabana doubled their advantage just two minutes into the second half, with Mark Okolla Mwalimu teeing up Brian Michira, who calmly slotted home to make it 2-0. Bandari briefly threatened a comeback when Ali Halafu pulled one back in the 65th minute, but Nehemiah Onchiri sealed the win in the 87th with a rocket that restored the two-goal cushion.
A massive three points for Shabana, who continue their push for a stronger league finish.
Tusker missed the chance to go top after a 1-1 draw with Mara Sugar in Awendo. After a cagey first half, the Brewers finally broke through in the 54th minute, thanks to Crispine Erambo’s composed finish.
But defensive lapses cost them again. Otieno Odaro took full advantage of a Tusker error in the 65th minute to level the scores. The draw leaves Tusker just a point behind Kenya Police, but with both sides dropping points, the title race is wide open.
Kariobangi Sharks edged FC Talanta 2-1 in a tightly contested encounter at home. The Sharks drew first blood in the 25th minute through Victor Ngume. But Talanta responded just before the break with a well-timed equaliser to send both sides into half-time locked at 1-1.
The second half saw both teams chase the winner, but it was the hosts who found the breakthrough. In the 83rd minute, Sharks snatched the decisive goal to seal all three points in front of their fans. A gritty win that keeps Sharks in the conversation for a strong season finish.
Muranga Seal and Bidco United shared the spoils in a tense 1-1 draw that could have gone either way. The first half offered few clear-cut chances as both sides played it safe.
The hosts broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute with a smartly taken goal and looked poised to hold on. But Bidco had other ideas, striking late in the 84th minute to grab a share of the points. Both teams walk away with a result that neither will be fully satisfied with—but one that reflects the balance of the match.
As the league heads into its final stretch, the margins between triumph and regret are razor-thin. With Kenya Police and Tusker neck and neck, and teams like Shabana and Sharks finding late-season form, Matchweek 26 might just have been a turning point in a title race that refuses to slow down.
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