• FOOTBALL

• Frank Rotich 2 days ago

Nairobi United dreaming of top two finish after win over Tusker

Nairobi United head coach Godfrey Oduor has challenged his players to push for a top-two finish in the Kenyan Premier League after the impressive 1-0 win over Tusker on Wednesday.

The victory stretched Nairobi United’s unbeaten run to eight league matches and lifted the club to fourth place on the table, increasing belief inside the camp that they can still finish among the league’s top sides this season.

Speaking after the match, Oduor said his players still have everything to fight for despite their recent FKF Cup disappointment.

“We can still finish second,” said Oduor. “We have four matches remaining, which means there are still 12 points available. The players only need to stay focused and committed.”

The coach praised his side for showing character against a strong Tusker team, especially after making changes to the starting lineup.

Rwanda midfielder Muhadjiri Hakizimana scored the only goal of the match in the 18th minute to hand Nairobi United their third straight league victory. The midfielder once again proved decisive with his calmness and experience in midfield.

Despite Tusker starting brightly, Nairobi United remained organised and dangerous on the counterattack. Striker Benson Omalla nearly doubled the lead before halftime after hitting the post in the 40th minute.

Oduor revealed that his tactical plan was built around mixing experienced players with high football intelligence and younger players with pace and energy.

“We combined players with football IQ and players with speed, and it worked well for us,” he explained.

The clean sheet was also a major boost for Nairobi United, marking their first in the league since the 3-0 win over Shabana in April.