Shabana survives as Muhoroni Youth is relegated in thrilling FKFPL season finale

Shabana guaranteed their place in next season's top flight with a 1-0 victory away to Murang'a Seal in a match that was played at Sebastian Park in Murang'a.

Knowing that a win would guarantee safety, the Glamour Boys went into the match holding their fate in their hands and when Samuel Maiko gave them the lead in the 40th minute, the Kisii-based side did not look back, they held on for a precious victory that propelled them to 14th place.

For a club that looked like sure relegation candidates until they turned around following the appointment of Sammy "Pamzo" Omollo as their new head coach in January, the 2023-24 FKF Premier League season finale climaxed with the scenes the club's loyal legion of fans had prayed and wished for.

With this anguish behind their back now, there can be no denying that the plan is to resume next season with a stronger and more competitive team. The result left Murang'a Seal 13th with 38 points.

While Shabana celebrated, there was sadness at the Muhoroni Stadium as Muhoroni Youth's relegation was finally confirmed after just a season in the top flight, having adapted the identity of the now-defunct Wazito Football Club.

Muhoroni Youth's fate was sealed with a 1-1 draw against Posta Rangers, a result that was not good enough to get them out of 17th place as Sofapaka won their match against the already relegated Nzoia Sugar at the Dandora Stadium 3-1 to cement 16th place with 36 points, four more than the luckless Muhoroni Youth.

Due to their 1-1 with Muhoroni Youth, Posta Rangers completed the season in 9th place with 48 points.

As the duo of Muhoroni Youth and Nzoia Sugar make the descent to the 2024–25 FKF National Super League, they leave next year's top-flight competition with only one team based in the Western and Nyanza Regions.

With Sofapaka set to face a Nairobi-based team in its promotion-relegation play-off match against the team ranked third in the final 2023-24 FKF NSL standings, coupled with the return of Mathare United, the number of Nairobi Metropolitan Area-based teams in the league is expected to rise from 12 to 13.

Bandari (Mombasa), Kakamega Homeboyz (Kakamega), Mara Sugar (Narok), Murang'a Seal (Murang'a), and Shabana (Kisii) will be the only team based outside Nairobi and its metropolitan area in the 2024-25 FKF Premier League season.

As Muhoroni Youth, Shabana, and Sofapaka hogged the limelight with the relegation survival battle, the trio of Benson Omalla (Gor Mahia), Tito Okello (Kenya Police), and John Makwatta (Kariobangi Sharks) also had eyes on them as the trio, with 17, 16, and 15 goals, respectively, battled for the golden boot.

In the end, it was Gor Mahia's Benson Omalla who finished the day as the league's top scorer for the second consecutive season. His brace helped Gor Mahia to a 4-3 win away to Bidco United at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos as K'Ogalo celebrated being crowned league champions for a record 21st time.

At the Police Sacco Stadium, where Makwatta and Okello went head-to-head, it was only the former who got on the scoring sheet. Makwatta opened the scoring for his team before they surrendered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Kenya Police FC. The result saw Kenya Police FC finish the season in third place with 57 points and the Kariobangi Sharks ranked four places lower in 7th place with 48 points.

The Kariobangi Sharks were not the only side to throw away a two-goal lead, as the Nairobi City Stars surrendered a similar score in their 3-2 loss against KCB at the Utalii Grounds.

Until they had victory dramatically snatched from them, Nairobi City Stars was on course to finish the season in fourth place with 53 points but the loss left them sixth with 50 points. KCB, on the other hand, managed to secure enough points, to see them leapfrog Bidco United into 10th place with 45 points.

Nairobi City Stars' 3-2 loss to KCB allowed Bandari and AFC Leopards to breeze past them as the duo finished in fourth and fifth place with 52 points and 51 points after 2-1 and 1-0 victories over Talanta and AFC Leopards respectively.

For Bandari, their finishing in fourth place was somehow deceiving, as their victory over Talanta at the Kasarani Annex was their first win in 10 league matches. If anything, they completed the season with the joy and pride of ending on a high.

The defeat to Bandari saw Talanta drop to 15th place with 37 points but it did not matter as they had already done enough to survive relegation.

Ulinzi Stars, who also eased their relegation worries with a 2-1 win over Kariobangi Sharks in Round 33, were also least affected by the loss to AFC Leopards at the Ulinzi Sports Complex, as the result left them 12th with 39 points. However, their performance season must have been a warning sign for them as they may not get lucky with a repeat of the same next season.

At the Ruaraka Grounds, Tusker ended the season having gotten their revenge over Kakamega Homeboyz for past atrocities. The 1-0 win may have come on a day when stakes were low but having lost in their last three matches against Abana Abeingo, the alemen must be glad to have gotten one over Kakamega Homeboyz as they finished second with 65 points. Kakamega Homeboyz ended the season in 8th place with 48 points.