The 2026 Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Cup surprise packages BB Bread will be hoping to continue their fairytale run when they take on SportPesa League giants Kenya Police FC in the Round of 16 tie set for the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani on Friday afternoon.
The Nairobi East Regional League side have defied all odds in making it to the last 16 as they have already knocked out giants AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia in the previous rounds, causing a huge upset in the cup competition offering a route to the continental CAF Confederation Cup.
The team will now turn their attention to 2024 champions Police who should be aware not to treat them as underdogs.
ALSO READ: Gor Mahia suffer humiliating FKF Cup exit after loss to regional side BB Bread
In another tie at the same venue, Tusker FC will take on Kariobangi Sharks for a place in the quarterfinals.
The Brewers are looking to salvage their season by clinching the cup and securing a return to continental football, while the Slum Boys arrive at Kasarani with the ambition of getting a lifeline after a disastrous relegation-threatened campaign.
The Brewers have endured a turbulent campaign but they remain a formidable knockout side. Having won the cup title four times, they enter the contest knowing it represents their most realistic path to the continental football as they are currently wenty points behind leaders Gor Mahia in the SportPesa league with only eight games to play.
Kariobangi Sharks, currently occupying 14th position in the league standings, view the cup as their traditional stronghold. Despite a difficult league run, William Muluya’s side has a history of rising to the occasion in knockout stages.
They aim to replicate the form that saw them reach three consecutive finals between 2017 and 2019 to upset their more experienced rivals.
Coach Views
Tusker FC – Julien Mette
Mette has been clear that the cup is now the club’s primary focus following a string of inconsistent league results that have moved them away from the title race.
“In a knockout game, history counts for little, but character counts for everything. We have prepared specifically for the intensity of this tournament, and the players know what is at stake because we can’t win the league.
This tournament is our opportunity to secure continental football,” he remarked in his pre match address.
Head-to-Head and Form
Tusker FC secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Kariobangi Sharks in their last league meeting in March 2026 at the Police Sacco Stadium.
However, Sharks historically boast a strong record against the Brewers in knockout formats, including their memorable run to the 2018 title when they defeated them in the quarters having also eliminated them in the round of 16 a year earlier.
Victory for Tusker FC will see them advance to the quarterfinals and stay on track for a 5th cup title.
Conversely, a win for Kariobangi Sharks will keep their dreams of a second cup trophy alive and provide a much-needed boost to their 2026 fight against relegation campaign.
FKF Cup Round of 16 Friday
Tusker vs Kariobangi Sharks – 1300 EAT
Police vs BB Bread – 1530EAT