Bandari beat Al-Azizia to secure FKF Cup spot

Bandari stormed into the Round of 16 of the Football Kenya Federation Cup with a commanding 3-1 victory over Al-Azizia at Mbaraki Stadium in Mombasa.

The match showcased a stellar performance by Alfred Emoni, who bagged a brace, and Jackson Dwang, who sealed the win for the "Dockers."

Al-Azizia's sole response came from Michael Kairie's powerful thunder strike, which proved to be nothing more than a consolation for the Meru-based Division 2 side.

The action kicked off early, with Bandari’s Alfred Emoni taking just four minutes to break the deadlock. A perfectly timed header from defender Dennis Njire sent the ball to Emoni, who finished it with a clinical shot from 8 yards, firing it to the top corner of the net.

Al-Azizia didn’t back down and responded swiftly with an equalizer just minutes later. Michael Kairie, after a delightful pass from playmaker Melvin Muthomi, unleashed a powerful 20-yard shot that left Bandari goalkeeper Farouk Shikalo helpless as it flew into the net.

However, Bandari wasn’t to be outdone. Just past the half-hour mark, they regained the lead when Emoni converted a penalty after Al-Azizia’s Kennedy Onyango was penalized for a handball inside the box.

Seven minutes later, substitute Jackson Dwang extended Bandari's lead to 3-1, pouncing on a loose ball inside the 6-yard box after Al-Azizia’s defenders blocked a shot from William Gitama.

The visitors were left with no response as Bandari FC finished the first half with a commanding 3-1 lead.

In the second half, Al-Azizia sat deep, trying to contain Bandari's high tempo and prevent further damage. In the 79th minute, Bandari came close to adding another when Geoffrey Ojunga’s powerful 35-yard strike sailed just inches over the crossbar. Moments later, veteran striker John Mark Makwata had two quick attempts that failed to hit the target.

Despite the loss, Al-Azizia's head coach, Stephen Ochola, remained positive, praising his team's resilience.

"We are grateful for the opportunity to play against Bandari. It was a valuable challenge, and I’m happy with how the boys performed. Our plan worked defensively, and we didn’t concede many goals."

On the other hand, Bandari FC head coach Ken Odhiambo expressed satisfaction with the result but acknowledged areas for improvement, particularly in finishing. "The important thing is the win and progression to the next round," Odhiambo said.