Nairobi United will be out to test their growing belief when they host record SportPesa League champions Gor Mahia in a highly anticipated league clash at Dandora Stadium on Sunday afternoon, with kick-off set for 4PM.
The match brings together two sides pushing for consistency at different ends of the table but both arriving in good spirits after important wins in their previous outings.
Nairobi United head into the encounter sitting 10th on the log with 16 points from 10 matches.
The debutants in the top flight have won five games, drawn one and lost four, a return that reflects a season of mixed fortunes as they continue to adapt to life in the SportPesa League.
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Gor Mahia out for revenge as Nairobi United lie in wait
Despite the ups and downs, the team remains confident, especially after snapping a difficult run with a narrow but vital 1-0 victory over Tusker in their last match at the SportPesa Arena.
Gor Mahia, on the other hand, arrive as league leaders, level on 23 points with Shabana FC but sitting top due to a superior goal difference.
K’Ogalo have enjoyed a strong campaign so far, recording seven wins, two draws and three defeats.
Their most recent outing saw them edge Kakamega Homeboyz 1-0 at Kasarani Stadium, with Alpha Onyango scoring a stunning goal to secure maximum points.
This will be the second meeting between the two sides, with memories still fresh from last season’s FKF Cup final at the Ulinzi Sports Complex.
On that occasion, Nairobi United, then competing in the second tier, shocked Gor Mahia with a memorable 2-1 win.
That victory denied Gor Mahia silverware for the season and handed Nairobi United the trophy, earning them a historic qualification to represent Kenya in the CAF Confederation Cup for the first time in the club’s history.
Nairobi United vs Gor Mahia team news
Nairobi United captain John Otieno believes the recent win over Tusker has come at the perfect time and has injected belief within the squad ahead of the Gor Mahia test.
Speaking ahead of the match, Otieno said, “It has been a great morale booster because we’ve had a bad run and finally that win came and with that we are positive to get a win in this game. We are ready for the task and we will get the three points.”
Head coach Nicholas Muyoti, however, has urged caution, acknowledging the quality and experience Gor Mahia possess.
“We are expecting a very tough match. Gor Mahia are the league leaders and both sides are coming from wins, which means both are on a positive note. We expect a very tactical and tough match, but we’ve prepared for it,” Muyoti said.
The coach is keen to build on the defensive discipline shown against Tusker, where Nairobi United kept a clean sheet. “In our last match we managed a clean sheet and we need to build on that.
We created many chances so we expect to try and score and make sure we defend well. Gor Mahia have been good on transition and we’ve worked on it. Transition from defending to attack, we expect them to do the same and we are prepared for that,” he added.
Gor Mahia will also be looking to sharpen their finishing after a wasteful display against Kakamega Homeboyz.
Assistant coach Kobi admitted the team was not pleased with their decision-making in the final third.
“We didn’t take many of our chances. Our players made some wrong decisions where they were supposed to shoot they passed the ball and vice versa. We saw it and we were not happy with that,” he said.
As the SportPesa League prepares to take a two-week Christmas break, Gor Mahia will be keen to end the year on a high by maintaining their place at the summit and settling scores with Nairobi United.
For the hosts, it is another opportunity to prove they belong among the league’s elite and to once again trouble the record champions
on a big stage.