FKF Cup: Defending champions Kakamega Homeboyz eliminated

Kakamega Homeboyz have failed to defend the Football Kenya Federation Cup after going down to KCB at Dandora Stadium on Saturday, April 27, 2024.

The Premier League sides met in the quarter-final encounter of the domestic cup and the defending champions fell to a 1-0 defeat.

Given how they have been performing in the league, Kakamega Homeboyz were favourite on paper to progress, but could not translate the previous good form and outclass the Bankers.

Kakamega Homeboyz, unbeaten in nine league games, started strongly but were unable to use their opening minutes' dominance to score goals. An open chance  came in the 10th minute, but Farouk Shikalo, a former Homeboyz goalkeeper, parried away a headed shot by Oliver Machaka.

Another chance for Abana Abeingo came three minutes later when Moses Mudavadi attempted to beat Shikalo with a long range shot only for the ball to fly wide.

The Bankers grew into the game and became a threatening force late in the first half with a chance in the 37th minute, showing how ambitious they were now in getting at least an opener. 

KCB's goal

John Omondi made a poor clearance that was collected by KCB's Philemon Nyakwaka but the shot flew wide. Another chance came when Henry Onyango found himself in a good goal-scoring position but could not find the back of the net.

Kakamega Homeboyz were also fighting and creating their chances even under pressure from KCB and could have broken the deadlock through Mudavadi and Estone Esiye, but they could not.

In the second half, just as it was the case in the first one, the first chance was for the defending champions who were dominant but Mudavadi failed to score from a promising position.

Despite their dominance, Kakamega Homeboyz conceded at the hour mark when Danson Namasakha scored for the Bankers.

The goal did not stop Kakamega Homeboyz from fighting and they almost restored parity in the 66th minute but the effort by Mudavadi went slightly out.

An effort by KCB's Shadrack Simiyu almost doubled the Bankers' lead but James Ssetuba in Homeboyz's goal denied them by making a crucial save.

Another chance for KCB came late in the second half but Brian Chala failed to find the back of the net. The Bankers held tight to win and secure their place in the final.

A chance to play in the CAF Confederation Cup is now their main target, but will have to get a ticket by winning the FKF Cup to feature in the 2024/25 continental campaign.