Shabana FC will be looking to keep their top three ambitions alive when they take on already relegated Sofapaka FC in a crucial SportPesa League encounter at the Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday.
The Glamour Boys head into the clash knowing that maximum points could significantly boost their chances of finishing the season among the top three sides with only two matches left before the curtain falls on the campaign.
On the other hand, Batoto Ba Mungu have little left to fight for apart from pride after suffering relegation following a disappointing season.
When the two sides met in the first leg, Shabana edged Sofapaka 1-0 in a tightly contested fixture at Gusii Stadium.
The decisive moment came as early as the sixth minute when Ugandan forward Bronson Nsubuga produced a moment of magic, gliding past the Sofapaka backline before calmly slotting home the lone goal of the encounter. That result continued Shabana’s recent dominance in this fixture.
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Historically, Shabana have enjoyed the upper hand against Sofapaka in recent meetings. In the last five encounters between the two teams, Tore Bobe have secured four victories while Sofapaka have managed only one win.
Interestingly, most of those matches have been decided by narrow margins, with 1-0 scorelines becoming a common outcome. The biggest victory recorded during that run came in 2023 when Shabana dismantled Sofapaka 4-1 in a commanding display.
Coming into the match, both sides have struggled for consistency in recent weeks. Sofapaka arrive at Nyayo on the back of a heavy 3-0 defeat against Posta Rangers FC.
In their last five league outings, Batoto Ba Mungu have registered three draws and two losses, underlining the difficult run that eventually condemned them to relegation.
Shabana, meanwhile, bounced back to winning ways with a narrow 1-0 victory over already relegated Bidco United FC. Despite the win, their recent form has also been shaky, having recorded one win, two defeats and two draws in their previous five league matches.
The Kisii-based outfit currently sit fourth on the SportPesa League standings with 51 points, just one point behind third-placed Kenya Police FC.
Shabana have managed 14 wins, nine draws and nine defeats this season while scoring 33 goals and conceding 31. One of their standout performers has been goalkeeper Stephen Ochieng’, who has already sealed the Golden Glove award after amassing an impressive 16 clean sheets this campaign.
For Sofapaka, the numbers paint the picture of a difficult season. The 2009 league champions have won only three matches all season, drawn nine and suffered a league-high 19 defeats. They have scored just 17 goals while conceding 42, statistics that explain their struggles throughout the campaign.
With Shabana still chasing a third place finish and Sofapaka eager to restore some pride before the season ends, the clash is expected to produce a competitive battle despite the contrasting fortunes of the two clubs.
The match will be aired live on Azam Sports. Match tickets have been priced at ksh 300 for regular seats, ksh 600 for VIP and Ksh 1,000 for VVIP access.
SportPesa League Sunday, May 24 Round 33 fixtures
- Sofapka vs Shabana FC- Nyayo Stadium 2pm
- APS Bomet vs AFC Leopards – Kericho Gree Stadium 2pm
- Bidco United vs Murang’a SEAL – SportPesa Arena 3pm
- Bandari vs Tusker – KPA Mbaraki Sports Club 3pm
- Nairobi United vs Kenya Police FC- Ulinzi Sports Complex 4pm