Sofapaka will host Nairobi United at the Kasarani Annex on Saturday afternoon in a SportPesa League Round 24 fixture, with kickoff scheduled for 1pm EAT.
Initially set for the Police Sacco Stadium, the match was moved to the Annex as part of an early-kickoff schedule. The hosts are in a desperate fight for survival at the bottom of the table, while the league newcomers, Nairobi United, aim to build on their recent momentum.
For the hosts, Sofapaka occupy the 18th position with just 14 points from 23 matches. Batoto ba Mungu are enduring a nightmare run, having lost their last seven matches in a row.
Their latest setback was a 3-1 defeat to Mara Sugar, a result that further deepened their relegation fears. With only three wins all season, the 2009 champions are running out of time to preserve their top-flight status.
Nairobi United, currently sitting 10th on the log with 30 points, enter the tie buoyed by the lethal form of January signing Benson Omala. Since his return from Cambodia, the former Golden Boot winner with Gor Mahia has scored in three consecutive league matches.
What both coaches said before the match
Sofapaka
Head Coach Juma Abdallah has been vocal about the immense pressure on his shoulders, admitting that the team’s current position is keeping him awake.
“Truth is that there is a lot of pressure; I cannot sleep until I change the fortunes of this team. We have been working thoroughly on the things that have cost us victory. We must close down opponents and stop the easy display that has made us lose games.”
Nairobi United
On his part, Godfrey “Solo” Oduor has praised his team’s mental growth but challenged his star striker Benson Omalla to remain ruthless as the season hits the home stretch.
“Benson (Omala) is an experienced player and he gets goals, so our job is only to keep him in a place where he is hungry to score more. We do not want him to get into a comfort zone just because he has made a name for himself. We are telling him he can get a hat-trick today. I expect a good challenge from Sofapaka though but we are very ready.”
Head-to-Head and Form
In the first-leg meeting earlier this season, Sofapaka pulled off a surprising 3-0 victory over Nairobi United. However, the form guides have flipped significantly since that November encounter.
Recent Form:
- Sofapaka: L-L-L-L-L (0 points from last 15)
- Nairobi United: D-D-W-L-D (6 points from last 15)
Victory for Nairobi United will propel them to eighth place on the log. Conversely, a win for Sofapaka will see them bridge the gap between themselves and 17th-placed APS Bomet to two points.