Nyundo FC booked a place in the semi-finals of the Sisi Ni Dola Cup 2026 after overcoming Nabadda FC 4-2 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw in a tense quarter-final encounter at Mombasa Sports Club.
The coastal side secured victory after both teams failed to find a winning goal during regulation time, forcing the match into penalties, where Nyundo remained composed to advance to the last four of the tournament’s second edition.
Nyundo took an early lead through forward Joash Ndela, who scored just four minutes into the match to give his team a strong start.
However, their advantage lasted only briefly after defender Ahmed Mohamed scored an own goal in the 21st minute, allowing Nabadda FC to level the scores.
The two teams went into the halftime break tied, and neither side managed to break the deadlock in the second half despite creating several chances.
The match was eventually decided through spot kicks, where Nyundo converted four penalties while restricting Nabadda to two successful attempts.
Nyundo Head Coach Swaleh Abdalla attributed the victory to his players’ confidence, preparation and ability to remain calm under pressure.
“We thank the Almighty God. We had confidence going into the penalties,” Abdalla said, adding that teamwork and mental focus helped the squad overcome a difficult encounter.
The coach praised goalkeeper Francis Katana for his contribution throughout the tournament, particularly his confidence during penalty situations.
Katana entered the quarter-final match having kept four consecutive clean sheets and was leading the tournament’s Golden Glove standings before Thursday’s own goal brought his streak to an end.
Reflecting on the penalty shootout, the goalkeeper said he trusted his ability whenever he faced spot kicks.
“I believe in myself when it comes to penalties,” Katana said.
Nyundo became the second team to qualify for the semi-finals after Green Eagles, who reached the last four following a convincing 4-0 victory over Likoni United in the opening quarter-final.
Green Eagles scored through Ali Washe, Kassim Beuchi and a second-half brace from Emmanuel Nyamawi to secure their place.
Nyundo will now face Green Eagles in the semi-final scheduled for August 10.
The remaining quarter-final matches will see Al Shifaa take on hosts Mombasa Sports Club on Friday, while defending champions Fayaz FC face Azzam United from Kwale on Sunday. The winners of the two matches will meet in the second semi-final.
The Sisi Ni Dola Cup 2026 is the second edition of the tournament organised by Dola Group. The competition was launched on July 10 at Mombasa Sports Club and features a five-week programme with a grand prize of Sh1 million, double the inaugural edition’s Sh500,000 reward.
The tournament has attracted teams from Mombasa, Kwale and Kilifi counties, with Lamu County making its debut appearance this year.
By Joan Kinuthia
