The 2026 Kenyan Premier League (KPL) season resumed with a shock on Sunday as league debutants Nairobi United marched into a packed Gusii Stadium and walked away with a dominant 3-1 victory over 5th-placed Shabana FC.
In a match that saw “Tore Bobe” fans fill the stands in anticipation of a New Year’s feast, it was the visitors who feasted instead, clinical in their execution and resilient in defense.
The Omala Show
The afternoon belonged to Duncan Omala, whose clinical finishing silenced the home crowd. Omala opened the scoring in the 21st minute, pouncing on a lapse in the Shabana defense.
The pressure from Nairobi United didn’t let up, and just before the halftime whistle, disaster struck for the hosts. James Mazembe unfortunately turned the ball into his own net in the 44th minute, sending Shabana into the break trailing by two.
Omala returned to complete his brace in the 58th minute, effectively ending the contest as a spectacle and leaving the Gusii fortress in stunned silence.
Ugandan Bronson Nsubuga’s Impact
Looking for a spark, Shabana introduced Ugandan import Bronson Nsubuga in the second half. Nsubuga showed flashes of brilliance and high energy, trying to drive the “Glamour Boys” forward. While his effort was commendable, the three-goal deficit proved too steep a mountain to climb against a well-organized Nairobi United backline.
A Bittersweet Return for Migori
The silver lining for Shabana was the return of Brian Michira Migiro. After a long 12-game absence due to injury, Migori was introduced late in the second half. The captain showed he hadn’t lost his touch, stepping up to convert a 91st-minute penalty to give the home fans a solitary goal to cheer for.
The Post-Match Outlook
The result sees Nairobi United climb to 9th place on the log with 20 points, signaling their intent to challenge for the top half. Meanwhile, Shabana remains rooted in 5th position on 23 points, missing a golden opportunity to close the gap on league leaders AFC Leopards.
