Nairobi City Stars’ opening game in the 2025/26 National Super League (NSL) ended in a narrow 1-0 defeat away at the Homabay Stadium to home team MOFA on Sunday 28 September, 2025.
MOFA won a penalty late in the game after City Stars defender Stephen Bulugu was adjusdged to have fouled a player inside the box.
While Bulugu grabbed himself a second caution for the challenge, and matching orders, MOFA won a penalty that Laban Otieno converted in the 80th minute for the winner.
The MOFA match was the first City Stars in the second tier, coming five seasons apart from their last one at that level, versus Nairobi Stima in Camp Toyoyo on Saturday 14 March, 2020.
Next up for Simba wa Nairobi is a home game on matchday two at the Ngond Vapor grounds against Luanda Villa on Sunday 5 October starting at 3pm.
Lineup
Nairobi City Stars: 33. Livingstone Chacha-GK, 17. Kelvin Elias, 4. Timothy Muganda-Captain, 6. Brian Opinde, 22. Stephen Bulugu, 19. Austine Moya, 31. Abuyeka Kubasu, 3. Vincent Odongo, 10. Lawrence Luvanda, 30. Suleiman Konzi, (7. Abdirahman Sharrif), 12. Joshua Amunike
Unused subs: 1. Arnold Shivachi (GK), 25. Joseph Odhiambo, 16. Jimmy Ndungi, 26. Bernard Odhiambo, 5. Phabian Odhiambo
Out: 4. Salim Odeka, Kelvin Nginai, James Kibande, 11. Luke Namanda, 8. Calvin Masawa, 20. Alvine Mukudi, 15. Eddison Katana
Coach: Salim Babu