Joshua Amunike
Joshua Amunike up against a Kibera Black Stars player durong an 2025/26 NSL matchday 4 tie in Ngong Vapor grounds on Sun 26 Oct 2025

MD4: Nairobi City Stars 2 Kibera Black Stars 3

Simba wa Nairobi went down 3–2 to Kibera Black Stars in a 2025/26 National Super League (NSL) matchday four encounter played at Ngong Vapor Grounds on Sunday, 26 October 2025.

Two headers from corners in the 11th and 56th minutes by Fidel Castro and Bockins Adeya, respectively, put Black Stars in control. In between, City Stars had pulled one back in the 33rd minute when attacking midfielder Abuyeka Kubasu nodded in a Stephen Bulugu freekick from the left, earned after Lawrence Luvanda was fouled, for a 1-1 draw at the break. The goal marked Abuyeka’s first-ever league strike for the club.

Black Stars’ Jephiter Bundi then capitalized on a defensive lapse on the hour mark to stretch the game to 3-1 for the visitors.

On 71 minutes, Joshua Amunike grabbed a second for Simba wa Nairobi-his third goal in as many matches-to set up a tense finale that eventually ended 3–2 in favor of Black Stars.

The Sunday fixture was the first meeting between the two sides at this level since 14 December 2019 at Camp Toyoyo, when Black Stars edged City Stars 1-0 courtesy of a Janyeel Otieno goal that ended City Stars’ 23-match unbeaten NSL run.

With the defeat, City Stars drop from sixth to eighth place on eight points, while Black Stars climb to third on ten points in the 20-team standings.

Next up for City Stars is a midweek clash against Darajani Gogo at Ngong Vapor Grounds on Thursday, 30 October 2025, with kick-off set for 3 p.m.

Lineup

Nairobi City Stars: 33. Livingstone Chacha-GK, 17. Kelvin Elias, 16. Jimmy Ndungi, 4. Timothy Muganda (*20. Alvine Mukudi-63), 19. Austine Moya (25. Joseph Odhiambo-63), 5. Phabian Odhiambo, 31. Abuyeka Kubasu (11. Luke Namanda-63), 10. Lawrence Luvanda, 30. Suleiman Konzi (15. Eddison Katana-77), 12. Joshua Amunike

Unused subs: 1. Arnold Shivachi (GK), 7. Abdirahman Sharrif, 6. Brian Opinde,

Out: 3. Vincent Odongo, 5. Salim Odeka, 8. Calvin Masawa, 26. Bernard Odhiambo, 11. James Kibande, Kelvin Nginai

Coach: Salim Ali

* NSL debut

City Stars trio of Timothy Muganda, Stephen Bulugu and Joshua Amunike celebrate a goal against Kabati Youth on Thika Stadium on Sun 12 Oct 2025. Amunike's lone strike led to Simba wa Nairobi's 1-0 win
City Stars trio of Timothy Muganda, Stephen Bulugu and Joshua Amunike celebrate a goal against Kabati Youth on Thika Stadium on Sun 12 Oct 2025. Amunike's lone strike led to Simba wa Nairobi's 1-0 win

MD3: Kabati Youth 0 Nairobi City Stars 1

Joshua Amunike scored the lone goal in the 43rd minute to lead visiting Nairobi City Stars to a 1-0 win over Kabati Youth during a matchday three National Super League (NSL) tie played at the Thika Stadium on Sunday 12 October, 2025. 

Amunike tapped home a sublime left-footed cross from the right wing by Suleiman Konzi aka Babash in the 43rd minute to sink his former side.

It was the second straight Sunday that Amunike had scored a winning goal following up on the previous one against Luanda Villa at Ngong Vapor last weekend to hand City Stars back-to-back wins.

Next up for Simba wa Nairobi is a home game against Kibera Black Stars at Ngong Vapor grounds on Sunday 19 October, 2025, starting at 3 pm.

Lineup

Nairobi City Stars: 33. Livingstone Chacha-GK, 17. Kelvin Elias, 16. Jimmy Ndungi, 4. Timothy Muganda-Captain,22. Stephen Bulugu, 19. Austine Moya, 5. Phabian Odhiambo, 31. Abuyeka Kubasu (3. Vincent Odongo), 10. Lawrence Luvanda (7. Abdirahman Sharrif), 30. Suleiman Konzi, 12. Joshua Amunike (15. Eddison Katana)

Unused subs: 1. Arnold Shivachi (GK), 25. Joseph Odhiambo, 6. Brian Opinde, 26. Bernard Odhiambo

Out: 4. Salim Odeka, Kelvin Nginai, James Kibande, 8. Calvin Masawa, 11. Luke Namanda, 20. Alvine Mukudi

Coach: Salim Babu

Joshua Amunike
Joshua Amunike celebrates his goal - a winning one - against Luanda Villa at Ngong Vapor Grounds on Sun 5 Oct 2025

MD2: Nairobi City Stars 1 Luanda Villa 0

A Joshua Amunike goal two minutes after the restart was all Nairobi City Stars needed to edge out a spirited Luanda Villa 1–0 in a 2025/26 National Super League (NSL) matchday two encounter played at Ngong Vapor Grounds on Sunday, 5 October 2025.

The decisive moment came when Abuyeka Kubasu floated in a teasing freekick that was flicked on by Jimmy Ndungi’s header, falling kindly to Amunike, who made no mistake slotting home from close range.

The strike marked City Stars’ first goal in the second tier since Ebrima Sanneh’s winner in a 1-0 victory over Nairobi Stima at Camp Toyoyo on 14 March 2020.

The win served as a perfect response to their opening-day 1-0 defeat away to MOFA at the Homabay Stadium on Sunday, 27 September 2025.

Next up for Simba wa Nairobi is an away fixture against newly promoted Kabati Youth at Thika Stadium on Sunday, 12 October 2025, with kick-off set for 3 p.m.

Lineup

Nairobi City Stars: 33. Livingstone Chacha-GK, 17. Kelvin Elias, 16. Jimmy Ndungi, 4. Timothy Muganda, 8. Calvin Masawa-Captain, 19. Austine Moya, 5. Phabian Odhiambo, 31. Abuyeka Kubasu (3. Vincent Odongo-70), 10. Lawrence Luvanda (15. Eddison Katana-86), 30. Suleiman Konzi (7. Abdirahman Sharrif-70), 12. Joshua Amunike

Unused subs: 1. Arnold Shivachi (GK), 20. Alvine Mukudi, 25. Joseph Odhiambo, 6. Brian Opinde, 26. Bernard Odhiambo

Out: 4. Salim Odeka, Kelvin Nginai, James Kibande, 11.  Luke Namanda, 22. Stephen Bulugu

Coach: Salim Babu

Nairobi City Stars, Brian Opinde
Nairobi City Stars centre back Brian Opinde (Gold) vs a MOFA player during an NSL 2025/26 season opener in Homa Bay Stadium on Sun 28 Sep 2025. MOFA won the game 1-0 Photo credit - MOFA

MD1: MOFA 1 Nairobi City Stars 0

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

Gilbert Abala vs Sofapaka on 15 Jun 2024
Gilbert Abala vs Sofapaka on 15 Jun 2024

Gilbert Abala extends stay

Flyer Gilbert Abala has extended his contract with Nairobi City Stars for a further three years, till the close of the 2027/28 season.

Abala joined Simba wa Nairobi at the start of the 2023-24 season from fifth tier side Busia Sugar FC on an initial two-year deal.

“Abala’s was slow off the blocks in his first season but later on got a hang of the Kenyan topflight,”

“He has worked on many areas after is debut season and now he has fully adapted to the league,” 

“The youngster has since burst into the City Stars starting lineup with promise of getting better which informed the contract extension for another three years. He is one for the future,” said club CEO Patrick Korir

On his debut season, Abala featured in 12 games, mostly cameo appearances and just one start, earning 348 regular game minutes. He scored once.

He has since improved to earn ten starts in 14 games in the 2024/25 season, clocking 858 regular game minutes. He has a goal, assist, and progressive pass to his name.