- Nairobi United edged past KCB in the FKF Cup Round of 16 after winning on penalties Saturday at Dandora Stadium.
- Ernest stepped up for the final spot-kick, coolly slotting it past Brian Olang’o to seal the victory.
- The NaiBois will now face Kakamega Homeboyz in the quarterfinals.
Nairobi United goalkeeper Ernest Muhammed has expressed pride after guiding his team to the quarterfinals of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Cup with a career-defining, match-winning penalty in a tense shootout against KCB.
The National Super League leaders overcame the top-flight giants over the weekend in a tightly contested round of 16 clash.
After a goalless stalemate in regulation time, the match proceeded to penalties, where Nairobi United triumphed 6-5 at Dandora Stadium, securing their place in the last eight.
The NaiBois faltered early when Jim Ouma missed their first spot-kick, while Maruti Dennis squandered KCB’s second attempt after Francis Kahiro had already sent his effort wide.
With the shootout hanging in the balance, Ernest stepped up for the final penalty, coolly slotting it past Brian Olang’o to seal victory.
Reflecting on the victory, the goalkeeper noted their preparedness and praised the collective effort of the squad in overcoming the formidable challenge posed by Patrick Odhiambo’s well-drilled KCB side.
I’m extremely happy with today’s win. It was a total team effort. We came into this match fully aware of the strength of our opponents, and we prepared thoroughly throughout the week. We truly believed we could advance,” Muhammed told the SportPesa Blog post-match.
How Nairobi United managed KCB’s pressure in the regular time
He went on to analyze their tactical shortcomings during the first half and how a more composed second-half performance enabled them to withstand KCB’s pressure and take the game to penalties.
Honestly, in the first half, we did not fully adhere to the technical bench’s instructions, which gave KCB the upper hand. But after regrouping at halftime, we returned with more composure, stuck to the plan, and played with greater discipline which helped us to maintain the opponent pressure,” he explained.
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Muhammed also shared his confidence ahead of the crucial final kick, emphasizing how much the moment meant both to him personally and to the entire squad.
I chose to take the final penalty because I was confident I would score. I knew that I had the chance to push the team into the next round. This moment means a lot—not just for me, but for the entire team. I’m proud of my performance today, and this win gives us great motivation as we look forward to the next round,” he concluded.
Having already dispatched two Kenyan Premier League heavyweights, Tusker FC in the round of 32 and now KCB, Nicholas Muyoti’s side will now face 2023 defending FKF Cup champions Kakamega Homeboyz in the quarterfinals.
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