- Migori Youth have secured promotion to the SportPesa League for the 2026/27 season.
- They confirmed their promotion on Sunday, June 7, after defeating Equity FC 2-1.
- The club has spent the last eight seasons in the National Super League, with their closest attempt at promotion coming in 2023.
After spending eight years in the National Super League, Migori Youth FC will play the 2026/27 season in the SportPesa League next term.
This comes after they managed to edge out Equity FC 2-1 on Sunday in a penultimate fixture played at the Awendo Green Stadium.
Thanks to Vincent Wanga, who opened the scoring and sent them into the half narrowly leading at home before Equity leveled things in the second half, putting pressure on the Migori-based side.
John Juma then emerged as the hero, scoring the winner minutes later to ensure Migori maintained their lead at the top of the table. The victory saw them reach the 80-point mark, sealing promotion and crowning them National Super League champions.
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Migori Youth seal SportPesa League promotion
Migori, who have spent the last eight seasons in the second tier, have been pushing for promotion for years, but fortune had often deserted them.
Their first campaign in the NSL saw them finish 17th, narrowly avoiding a return to the third tier.
In 2020, when the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they finished fifth before dropping to 15th place in 2021, then improved by five positions in 2022.
The closest Migori came to securing promotion was in 2023 under coach Kevin Oluoch. They finished third and earned a playoff clash against the now-defunct Wazito FC.
The first leg ended goalless before Wazito, who later rebranded to Muhoroni Youth, comfortably won the return leg 3-0 to deny Migori a place in the top flight.
The next two seasons, they managed to finish mid-table; 10th and 11th respectively before now, under Sammy Owano, they have finally secured promotion with a game to spare.
They become the first side set to replace the already relegated Sofapaka and Bidco United, whose demotion has been confirmed.
Meanwhile, Kariobangi Sharks, despite currently occupying a relegation position, are still awaiting the outcome of an ongoing court case concerning promotion and relegation, with the 2019 and 2025 regulations remaining under judicial review.
As Sharks wait to learn their fate -given that the 2019 regulations allow for playoffs while the 2025 rules do not – the team that eventually finishes third in the NSL will also have to remain patient regarding its promotion prospects.
The battle for second place in the National Super League remains wide open, with the final matchday set to determine who finishes second and who settles for third.
3K FC currently occupy second spot on 76 points, while Mombasa United sit third on 75 points, setting up a thrilling finale for both sides.