Nairobi City Stars will host Shabana FC in the Kenyan topflight for the first time in exactly 18 years, 6,575 calendar days apart, during a matchday 20, 2023/24 FKF Premier League tie in Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos, on 4 February 2024 starting at 3 p.m.
NEXT UP ▶▶
MATCH DAY | #20
???? | Sunday 4th February
City Stars Fc ???? Shabana Fc
???? | Fkf-PL
⏰ | 1500hrs
???? | Machakos Stadium,#simbawanairobi pic.twitter.com/tPJ64SGXKN— Official Nairobi City Stars Fc (@NrbCityStars) January 29, 2024
Simba wa Nairobi – then known as World Hope – last hosted Shabana on 4 February 2006 at the City Stadium during a matchday 16 tie in the 2005/6 Premier League season.
That match ended 1-1. Then, Shabana opened the scores through Joseph Motori in the 36th minute but the hosts rallied for a share of the spoils through Samuel Akolo in the 88 minute.
That result was however nullified after World Hope was accused of fielding an illegible player handing Shabana a 2-0 awarded win.
Though it’s ages since Simba wa Nairobi hosted Shabana in the topflight, the Sunday hosts had taken in their upcoming foes between December 2018 and January 2020 while in the second tier, the National Super League.
City Stars won both games played on 20 Mar 2019 in Camp Toyoyo, and 1 September 2019 in Hope Centre, 3-1 and 2-0, respectively.
Into the upcoming game, City Stars sits second on the log with 33 points while Shabana is in relegation spot 17 with as many points from 19 games played.
Msimamo wa Jedwali ulivyo kabla ya Raundi ya 20.#FKFPremierLeague pic.twitter.com/Uez1l4s6M0
— FKF Premier League (@Officialfkfpl) January 29, 2024
Both come to the game in the wake of losses, City Stars parading a 2-0 fall to AFC Leopards, while Shabana tags along with a 1-0 loss to Ulinzi Stars in the last round.
On the touchline, Simba wa Nairobi boss Nicholas Muyoti will come up against Sammy Pamzo Omollo who has since taken over the Shabana onus as coach.
During the first leg of the current season, City Stars rallied from a goal down to hold Shabana 2-2 on Sun 22 Oct 2023 during a matchday seven-game played in Homa Bay Stadium.
Who wins this one?
Premier League home Games vs Shabana: 1 – Nairobi City Stars Wins (0), Draw (1), Loss (0)
4-Feb-06: World Hope vs Shabana, 1-1 (D)* Awarded to Shabana 2-0
4-Feb-24: Nairobi City Stars vs Shabana, ??