NAIROBI, KENYA – Nairobi United emphatically bounced back from a weekend defeat to secure a crucial 3-1 victory over Bandari FC in a rescheduled Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League match on Tuesday afternoon. The contest, held at Dandora Stadium on Wednesday, 5th November 2025, EAT, saw the hosts climb to sixth in the league standings with nine points, reaffirming their competitive start to the season.

The win provided a much-needed morale boost for Nicholas Muyoti’s side, who were humbled 3-0 by Sofapaka just days earlier. That result had followed their historic qualification for the CAF Confederation Cup group stages, and the victory against Bandari demonstrated the team's resilience. In response to the loss, Coach Muyoti made several tactical changes to his starting lineup, which proved effective against the Mombasa-based Dockers.

Early Goals Set Tense Pace

Nairobi United, known as the 'Naibois', started with intent and seized the lead just five minutes into the match. Rwandan defender Prince Bugereya scored his first goal for the club, connecting with a well-delivered set-piece from Ovella Ochieng to head the ball past Bandari goalkeeper Levis Opiyo. The hosts nearly doubled their advantage shortly after, but Ochieng’s subsequent free-kick attempt flew narrowly wide.

Despite the early setback, Bandari, under the guidance of new Moroccan coach Mohammed Borji, fought their way back into the contest. Their persistence paid off in the 40th minute when midfielder Geoffrey Ojuonga unleashed a powerful long-range strike that found the back of the net, leveling the score at 1-1 before halftime.

Second-Half Dominance Seals the Win

The second half saw a re-energized Nairobi United reclaim control. Their aggressive play led to a breakthrough in the 53rd minute when forward Duncan Omala was fouled inside the penalty area. Enock Machaka stepped up to the spot and calmly converted the penalty, sending Opiyo the wrong way to restore his team's lead at 2-1.

Coach Muyoti's strategic substitutions further solidified his team's dominance. The introduction of veteran forward Shami Kibwana proved decisive. With five minutes of regular time remaining, Kibwana sealed the victory by finishing off a well-worked team move, making the score 3-1. The win marked the first defeat for Bandari's coach Borji since he took charge of the club in October. For Bandari, the result compounds a difficult start to the season, leaving them in 14th position with only one win in six matches.

Implications for the League

The victory propels Nairobi United into the top half of the table, a significant achievement for the newly-promoted club that is also juggling continental competition commitments. Coach Muyoti praised his team's improved transitional play in the second half. "We conceded through transitions in the first half, and it was an area we needed to work on. I'm happy we had more attacks in the second half and it was a positive way to work around it,” he stated post-match.

Looking ahead, Nairobi United will host Kariobangi Sharks in their next league fixture, aiming to build on this momentum. Meanwhile, Bandari FC will face a tough challenge as they seek to reverse their fortunes against KCB. The Dockers' management, having recently invested in a new technical bench led by Borji, will be anxious for a swift improvement in results to match their stated ambitions of competing for the league title.