Nairobi City Stars will host Mathare United in a critical FKF Premier League Round 34 encounter on Sunday afternoon at 3pm, with survival firmly on the line. Positioned precariously in 16th place on the log with 34 points from 33 games, City Stars are fighting to avoid the drop and will view this penultimate fixture as a must-win.
With only one more match left in the season after this encounter, the stakes couldn’t be higher for the home side. Their current position places them squarely in the relegation playoff zone, and anything less than three points could leave them in deeper danger, depending on results elsewhere.
Despite the pressure, Nairobi City Stars enter this match in promising form, having collected 10 points from their last five outings. They clinched a vital 2-1 away win against KCB on June 15 and previously held Posta Rangers to a 1-1 draw. Perhaps their most inspiring result came in mid-May when they stunned title contenders Gor Mahia 2-1 on the road. Earlier in May, they battled to a dramatic 3-2 win over Mara Sugar, though they did suffer a narrow 1-0 defeat to Murang’a Seal.
This late resurgence has revitalized the Simba wa Nairobi, who are now looking to extend their dominance over Mathare United. The head-to-head record between the two teams strongly favors City Stars, who have won each of their last five meetings without conceding a goal. Their most recent encounter, played on November 27, 2024, ended in a 1-0 away victory for City Stars. Before that, they notched emphatic 3-0 home wins in March 2023 and February 2022, alongside clean-sheet away victories in January 2023 and December 2021.
Mathare United, on the other hand, are comfortably placed in 10th with 41 points. While they don’t face relegation worries, their recent performances have been inconsistent. They’ve earned just five points from their last five matches, with a goalless draw against Bandari in their most recent game. A 1-0 victory over Ulinzi Stars remains their only win during that stretch. Losses to AFC Leopards and Kakamega Homeboyz, coupled with a draw against Sofapaka, underline their struggles to maintain form.
Mathare’s record of 26 goals scored and 40 conceded mirrors City Stars’ offensive output but highlights a slightly better defensive line. However, given the form and desperation of their opponents, Mathare will need to be on high alert if they are to avoid being swept aside once again.
For City Stars, history, momentum, and home advantage combine to set the stage for what could be a pivotal step toward survival in the FKF Premier League.
