Nzoia ran amok as Ligi Ndogo stare at NSL chop

Unrelenting champions Nzoia United crossed the 90-point barrier as Ligi Ndogo edged closer to joining Shabana FC in the relegation scrap-heap following round 36 of the National Super League (NSL) over the weekend.

Promotion-chasing Nakumatt FC finally put the relegation sword through former top flight giants Shabana with a 2-0 victory on Sunday to end their NSL misery with the future of the cash-strapped Gusii-based side now hanging in the balance.

Ligi Ndogo who were thumped 3-0 by Mosca on Saturday have only two games to overhaul 17th-placed St. Joseph FC who slumped to a 2-1 home loss to Nakuru All Stars to avoid the chop.

“We have a slim possibility of escaping relegation but we haven’t lost hope. Our games are always unpredictable and we will face our remaining matches with the same character,” Ligi Ndogo chairman Chris Amimo said.

Shabana prop the NSL standings with 16 points with Ligi Ndogo and St. Joseph remaining stuck on 21 and 25 to complete the bottom three.

At the apex of the table, Nzoia are now on 91 after running goal-crazy against 17th-placed and already safe FC Talanta (27) in a 6-0 mauling, the biggest score-line of the weekend.

Only KCB dropped points among the top-five to end their interest in clinching a two-two finish after being held to a barren draw by Police FC to halt their five-game winning run.

The result left them on 70, as the all sides above them recorded victory to keep the race to finish behind Nzoia alive heading into the penultimate round of the second tier competition.

Kariobangi Sharks (77) maintained their hold on second after silencing Bidco United (50) who remain eighth 2-0 in Thika whilst Zoo Kericho (75) kept up the pressure in third by coming off the better of a 2-1 result at home mid-table Nairobi Stima.

Stima are level on points with Bidco but trail on goal difference as Nakumatt improved their tally to 74 after ending Shabana’s stay in the NSL.

With Football Kenya Federation and the Kenyan Premier League yet to agree on the top-flight league format for next season, the uncertainty has pushed NSL sides immediately below Nzoia to push for the top-two creating a contest of the ages.

With Sharks, Zoo and Nakumatt refusing to blink, the penultimate NSL fixtures on Thursday and Friday could throw another spin in the race for second.

Zoo travel to wounded Bidco aware any slip up could blow up their chance of overhauling Sharks whilst Nakumatt are away to Mombasa to face Modern Coast Rangers who lost 2-0 to Agro Chemicals on Saturday.

Sharks have the easier assignment on paper when they host Ligi Ndogo in what could be their visitor’s last game as an NSL side with KCB entertaining Agro.

WEEKEND RESULTS SUMMARY

Sunday

Shabana FC 0-2 Nakumatt

FC Talanta 0-6 Nzoia United

St.Joseph 1-2 Nakuru All Stars

Saturday

Police FC  0-0 KCB FC

Oserian FC 1-1 Vihiga United FC

Zoo Kericho FC 2-1 Nairobi Stima FC

Palos FC 2-1 Wazito FC

Ligi Ndogo FC 0-3 MOSCA FC

Agrochemicals FC 2-0 Modern Coast Rangers FC