- Eight teams in the FKF Premier League are locked in a relegation battle in the 2024/25 season, with just two matches remaining.
- The teams fighting for survival are Ulinzi Stars, Kariobangi Sharks, Mara Sugar, FC Talanta, Posta Rangers, Murang’a SEAL, Bidco United, and Nairobi City Stars.
- The most decisive encounters will involve Murang’a SEAL, Kariobangi Sharks, FC Talanta, and Mara Sugar, as their head-to-head clashes are likely to determine who stays up and who goes down.
The 2024/25 Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League relegation battle is hanging by a thread, with just two matches remaining and only six points separating 11th-placed Ulinzi Stars (37 points) from bottom-placed Nairobi City Stars (31 points).
This season, the league has been fiercely competitive – not just at the top but also at the bottom.
Unlike last season, where Gor Mahia had already secured the title and Nzoia Sugar were relegated with three games to spare (finishing with just 22 points), this time the fight for survival is alive and intense.
Meanwhile, Muhoroni Youth, another team that went down last season, had to wait until their final match against Posta Rangers where they were held to a 1-1 draw.
The faint hope they had was pinned on the relegation playoff spot, then held by Sofapaka, who eventually won their final match against Nzoia.
Muhoroni went down with 32 points, while Sofapaka survived after defeating NSL side Naivas FC in the playoffs.
This season, the tension is real for the eight teams still facing the threat of relegation.
None are safe, and this survival battle is expected to go down to the final day and the final whistle of the season.
With only two matches left, who among Ulinzi Stars, Kariobangi Sharks, Mara Sugar, FC Talanta, Posta Rangers, Murang’a SEAL, Bidco United, and Nairobi City Stars will dodge the relegation axe?
SportPesa Blog breaks down the survival chances of all eight teams based on their current standing and final fixtures.
Ulinzi Stars (11th, 37 pts)
Ulinzi Stars are currently 11th on the table with 37 points, six ahead of bottom-placed City Stars, five above 16th-placed Bidco United and four above Murang’a SEAL who currently occupy the playoff spot.
Ulinzi have had an inconsistent season, recently missing a chance to create more breathing room after losing 0-1 to Mathare United, who leapfrogged them in the standings.
Danstun Nyaudo’s men will next face Gor Mahia, who are still in the title race. Ulinzi must aim to pick up at least a point or, ideally, all three from this tough fixture.
Their final match will be away to Shabana FC at the Gusii Stadium.
Shabana are also fighting to finish among the top four, making it another challenging outing for Ulinzi.
They have not defeated either of these opponents this season – losing 3-0 to Gor in the first leg and drawing 2-2 with Shabana.
If they fail to collect any points, their fate in the FKF Premier league may depend entirely on other results.
Kariobangi Sharks (12th, 36 pts)
Kariobangi Sharks had a strong start to the season and, at one point, were in second place and in the title race.
However, injuries have derailed their campaign, and they now find themselves in 12th place with 36 points, not far from the relegation zone.
Their hopes lie in their final two matches—against a struggling Tusker FC side and direct rivals Mara Sugar.
Even if they fail to beat Tusker, they could still secure safety by drawing and then defeating Mara Sugar, who sit just a point below them.
They will also need to hope other results go their way.
Mara Sugar (13th, 35 pts)
Mara Sugar, newly promoted this season, are determined to avoid an immediate return to the National Super League.
They currently occupy 13th place with 35 points. Last weekend, they earned a vital 0-1 win over Shabana at the Gusii Stadium.
Their remaining matches are against direct rivals Murang’a SEAL and Kariobangi Sharks.
Should they lose both, and the teams below them win, they will likely be relegated.
Coach Benedict Wanjala knows that victories in both matches are crucial for FKF Premier league survival, as their opponents are also in the relegation mix.
ALSO READ : Sofapaka humiliate title contenders Tusker in 8 goal thriller at Dandora
FC Talanta (15th, 33 pts)
FC Talanta were enjoying good form recently, having picked up back-to-back wins against Tusker and KCB, and even beating Gor Mahia.
However, they stumbled over the weekend with a loss to Kenya Police.
Talanta boast one of the league’s most dangerous forwards Emmanuel Osoro, who has scored 16 goals this season.
Their fate will be decided in matches against AFC Leopards and Murang’a SEAL. Though they beat Leopards 4-2 in the first leg, they lost 1-0 to SEAL.
Coach Jackson Gatheru must guide his team to two strong performances, as even a draw could prove costly in this tight relegation race.
Posta Rangers (14th, 34 pts)
Posta Rangers are in 14th place with 34 points and have gone four games without a win.
Their form has been erratic all season. Under coach Sammy Omollo, their survival hopes rest on their last two matches – against in-form Sofapaka and a motivated Bandari FC, who are eager to bounce back from a four-match winless run.
To avoid relegation, Posta must secure at least four points or rely on other teams dropping points. Any loss or draw could be disastrous.
ALSO READ: Gor Mahia held by Murang’a SEAL in SportPesa Derby
Murang’a SEAL (Playoff Spot, 33 pts)
Murang’a SEAL, who currently occupy the playoff spot, are still in with a chance to secure direct safety.
They will face Mara Sugar and FC Talanta – both crucial, high-stakes fixtures against direct relegation rivals.
SEAL have been unpredictable this season, but six points from these final two games will likely guarantee a third consecutive season in the top flight.
Bidco United (16th, 32 pts)
Bidco United gave their survival hopes a massive boost with a 1-0 win over KCB on Monday, lifting them to 35 points.
They face Kakamega Homeboyz and Sofapaka in their final matches. Their FKF Premier League fate will depend not only on their performances but also on how the other teams around them fare.
Nairobi City Stars (18th, 31 pts)
Nairobi City Stars have shown signs of life recently, picking up seven points from their last three matches – a big boost after spending many weeks at the bottom.
Their survival hopes in what is their fifth season in the top flight since promotion in 2021 hinge on their final two games against KCB and Mathare United.
They must win both and hope that two or three of the teams above them falter, as they are not facing any direct relegation rivals.
ALSO READ: OPINION: Is a back 3 the right system for Kenyan giants Gor Mahia?
FKF Premier League relegation final verdict
The race for survival in the FKF Premier League this season is wide open and incredibly unpredictable.
Some teams are facing direct rivals, while others are not, meaning results will heavily depend on both performance and luck.
The most decisive battles involve Murang’a SEAL, Kariobangi Sharks, FC Talanta, and Mara Sugar, as their matches against each other will largely determine who survives and who goes down.
Meanwhile, City Stars, Bidco United, Posta Rangers, and Ulinzi Stars will be hoping to bag maximum points in their remaining fixtures and pray that results elsewhere go in their favor.