Mozzart Bet Cup: New champions expected as KCB FC knock Nairobi United out
Reading Time: 4min | Sun. 03.05.26. | 18:25
A first half strike by KCB was enough to settle the contest at Ulinzi Complex out
The Mozart Bet Cup 2026 will have new winner after Nairobi United suffered a 1-0 defeat to KCB FC in a quarter final match played wt the Ulinzii Sports Complex.
A 35th minute strike by Richard Omondi was all that separated the two teams at full time and break the hearts of the Naibois faithful who had filled Ulinzi Complex.
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KCB FC started the match as the brighter of the two sides, dominating play and initiating attacks from direct balls to Samuel Feargod.
However, the Nigerian could not sneak the ball past Bernard Jairo from the early pressure.
The Bankers were back at it in the eighth minute when Richard Omondi fed Boniface Omondi but the latter's strike went straight to Jairo who made a comfortable save.
Nairobi survived a scare in the 23th minute when Lesley Owino slammed the ball against the woodwork.
KCB kept knocking with Omondi shooting directly at Jairo from a loose ball inside the danger area.
The next chance fell to Decemba Kisaka in the 17th minute who collected a ball from outside the box, but his shot went over the bar.
Captain John Otieno would then come to Naibois’ rescue in the 21st minute when he made a last ditch tackle to take the ball off Richard Omondi's feet for a corner.
Naibois had to wait untill the half hour mark for their first chance of the match but Michael Karamor could not direct his header from a Lesley cross on target.
From their persistence, KCB would be rewarded in the 35th minute when Kisaka set Richard through on goal, and this time, the latter perfectly executed his low cross past Jairo.
Even after the goal, KCB kept pressing for another and had their next chance in the 38th minute through Omondi, whose long range effort went over the bar.
Naibois almost equalized in the 40th minute when Karamor was found by Kevin Wangaya from a corner but his header went inches wide off the crossbar.
The defending champions would then get another chance, two minutes, later through Lesley who went for a screamer but it was way off the target.
A sloppy defense by KCB almost gifted Naibois a hoal in the 45th minute when from a Wangaya corner, Dancun Omalla’s touch went inches wide with the defense caught napping.
Second Half
In the second half, Naibois came back as the brighter of the two sides, dominating play and pushing KCB deep into their own half.
Karamor had the first chance of the second period when he was fed by Wangaya but his shot in the 47th minute went wide.
Their next chance came in the 51st minute when from long range, Enock Machaka released a ferocious shot that was brilliantly punched by Elvis Ochoro.
In a bid to strengthen their attack, Naibois made a triplle substitution in the 57th minute, bringing on Ovella Ochieng, Mustafa Kizza and Benson Omalla for Dancan, Lesley Otieno and Karamor.
The Johnson Sakaja-backed side, who were now dominating proceedings, came close once again at the hour mark when Wangaya hit the post after KCB failed to clear their lines from an Ovella corner.
KCB wasted a chance to double the lead in the 65th minute when Boniface Omondi and Francis Kahiro, on a transition, found themselves with only Lenox Oguti to beat but Boniface failed to pass to Kahiro.
Kahiro had his chance in the 70th minute when he was released on a one on one with the goalkeeper.
He dribbled past Ochieng into the far corner but his cross went off target.
On the other end of the pitch, Harambee Stars left back pulled the trigger from range but his 71st minute effort went inches wide as Naibois intensified their search for goal.
Known for his mastery of dead balls, Kizza brought in an enticing free kick in the 80th minute but John Otieno could not connect to it in the 80th minute.
The Ugandan had another go in the 83rd minute, this time, finding the target and forcing Elvis Ochoro to spill it but John once again shot over from the six yard with an empty net.
Substitute David Sakwa wasted a chance to put his name on the scoresheet in the 86th minute when he dribbled past the goalkeeper but his effort went wide.
The last minutes of the match saw Naibois push for a winner but the KCB FC defense stood tall to ensure they book a semi final slot.