Football is a game of trends, and the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) has found its latest obsession: the inswinging corner. Data from the first half of the 2025/2026 season reveals a startling statistic—goals from corners have risen by 30%, with the vast majority coming from deliveries that curl towards the goal rather than away from it.

Coaches are increasingly instructing their takers to aim for the "corridor of uncertainty" right under the crossbar. This trajectory creates havoc for goalkeepers, who are forced to stay on their line or risk being caught in no-man’s land. It also favors attackers, who can use the pace of the ball to simply glance it into the net.

"Crowding the Keeper"

"It’s simple geometry," explains Tusker FC analyst George Owoko. "An inswinger is already traveling towards the goal. Any touch—by a defender or an attacker—can result in a goal. Outswingers require the striker to generate all the power."

Teams like Gor Mahia and Bandari have perfected the art of crowding the goalkeeper to prevent them from claiming these crosses. This tactic, borrowed from the European playbook of teams like Arsenal, is turning set-pieces into the KPL’s most dangerous weapon.

• The Stat: Of the 45 set-piece goals scored this season, 28 were from inswinging deliveries.
• The Evolution: This shift demands better technical ability from corner takers. Left-footed players taking corners from the right (and vice versa) are now premium assets in the transfer market. The "dead ball" is no longer dead; it is very much alive and kicking.