Kenya Police FC continued their steady ascent in the 2025/26 SportPesa League with a gritty 1-0 win over Mathare United at the Police Sacco Stadium on Saturday, November 22.
The Law Enforcers, enjoying a quietly impressive run of form, claimed their fourth victory of the campaign in a contest defined by high intensity, tactical discipline, and missed opportunities from both sides.
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Mathare arrived buoyant after last weekend’s 2-0 triumph over Kakamega Homeboyz, prompting head coach John Kamau to ring in three changes. Midfielder Musa Masika earned his first start of the season following a lively cameo in their previous outing, goal scorer Donald Ange returned to the XI.
Winger Paul Kinyanjui also slotted in as Kamau sought to sustain momentum. On the opposite bench, Police head coach Dusan Stojanovic kept faith with the side that edged Tusker 2-1, betting on continuity and chemistry.
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Police began brightly and nearly struck inside the opening ten minutes. A loose Mathare back pass invited pressure, allowing Edward Omondi to pounce, but goalkeeper Kevin Ouru reacted superbly to smother the danger and force the striker into lifting his effort over the bar.
Mathare responded with their best first-half moment in the 17th minute. A slick passing sequence freed Kinyanjui on the left, but he could only find the side netting. Minutes later, Masika’s long-range free kick cannoned off the Police wall as the Slum Boys struggled to translate possession into real threat.
The breakthrough arrived in the 26th minute in bizarre fashion. Daniel Sakari’s curling corner caused chaos in the Mathare box, resulting in an Harambee Stars defender Abud Omar’s goal that handed Police a crucial lead.
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Holding a 1–0 advantage at halftime, Mathare reshuffled at the restart, introducing Ouru and Kilume in search of more midfield stability. Their moment seemed to come in the 52nd minute when Ange swept the ball home, but the forward was penalised for handling in the buildup.
Police, sensing the need to protect their narrow lead, bolstered midfield with Tobias Otieno and Marvin Nabwire, before defender Baraka Badi replaced the lively Omondi. Mathare kept pushing, adding Ochieno and later Herit Mungai, but the Police backline marshalled superbly by captain David “Cheche” Ochieng’ and Charles Ouma held firm.
In the closing stages, goalkeeper Job Ochieng’ stayed sharp, claiming crosses and organising his backline to seal his fifth clean sheet of the season. The final whistle confirmed the Police’s fifth win in six meetings with Mathare United, another sign of their growing authority in this fixture.
The victory lifts Kenya Police FC further up the table, they sit third on the log standings with 14 points, five shy of Gor Mahia and with a game in hand. For Mathare United, the missed chances and disallowed goal will sting, but their improved buildup play offers encouragement for coach Kamau as the campaign unfolds.
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