By ELIAS MAKORI
Of the 16 teams still in the running, Pura Vida Sports Africa-powered Kuta Collections FC is the only non-league club that has remained afloat in the 2026 FKF Mozzart Bet knockout football tournament.
Kuta Collections FC scored a second-half goal through exciting Somali international midfielder Ibrahim Elias Ahmed “Mao” to edge out FKF Division Two League (Eastern Zone) side KSG Ogopa FC 1-0 in a Round of 32 fixture at Kasarani Annex to cruise into the Round of 16.
They now await next week’s draw for the tournament’s Round of 16 matches that will be played on the weekend on April 18-19.
The 16 teams still in the running in the tournament, whose winner represents Kenya in next season’s CAF Confederation Cup, are Tusker, 3K FC, Bandari, Ulinzi Stars, Kenya Police, Shabana, Mfalme and KCB.
Others are Kuta Collections, title holders Nairobi United, Murang’a Seal, Posta Rangers, Kakamega Homeboys, Kariobangi Sharks, Chebaiywa Lions and giant-slayers BB Bread.
In Sunday’s win, Ahmed cashed in on pressure created in the KSG Ogopa FC box by teammates Giovanni Lukhumwa and Erick Otieno to tap home from six yards out past an otherwise impressive goalkeeper Mark Ali after Luke Namanda had terrorized the KSG Ogopa FC’s left side of defence.
The Kuta Collections rearguard of skipper Morgan Oduor, Peter Okoth, Daniel Bichok and Boaz Maeri, alongside ‘keeper Mustapha Oduor then shut the doors for the visitors, pushing the game to safety.
In the Round of 64, Kuta Collections FC had eliminated FKF National Division One side Al-Azizia FC of Meru 6-5 on post-match penalties after a 2-2 draw in regulation play at the Kinoru Stadium, Meru.
Since they don’t feature in any FKF league, Kuta Collections FC players stay fit by playing friendly matches and have been relying on support from well-wishers, main supporters Pura Vida Sports Africa and player-coach Augustine Mtiang’a Kuta who is also the club’s founder.
The team’s captain, Morgan Oduor, maintained his focus, confident that his side will make the quarter-finals after the April Round of 16 fixtures.
“The game was good and we approached it according to the instructions of the technical bench. At least today the pitch was playable, not like last time (in Meru) and so we were able to play according to the instructions from the bench and also play in our usual playing style,” the skipper said after Sunday’s vital win.
Complete 2026 Mozzart Bet Cup Round of 32 results:
Friday, March 6:
Bidco United 0 Tusker FC 0
Saturday, March 7:
Bandari FC 2 Bumbani Stars FC 1;
Zetech Titans FC 0 KCB FC 4;
3K FC 4 Denmark FC 0;
Mfalme FC 1 WISA 0;
Shabana FC 5 Muhoroni Youth FC 2;
Ulinzi Stars FC 7 Zoo FC 0;
TBM Health FC 1 Kenya Police FC 4;
Sunday, March 8 fixtures:
Kuta Collections FC 1 KSG Ogopa FC 0;
Gor Mahia FC 0 BB Bread FC 1;
Kakamega Homeboyz FC 3 Kipchimchim FC 0;
Posta Rangers FC 2 Oinopsos FC 0;
Chebaiywa Lions FC 2 Gucha Youth FC 0;
Murang’a SEAL FC 1 FC Dynamo 0;
Kariobangi Sharks FC 4 K.U. Hardnuts FC 0;
Nairobi United 8 BMC Allstars FC 0.
Elias Makori, the founder and Managing Editor of Pura Vida Sports Africa, is a veteran sports journalist with over 30 years’ experience. Makori is a holder of a Masters in Sports Management degree from Barcelona’s Cruyff Institute and is also the 2012 World Athletics Journalist of the Year, three-time Kenya Sports Journalist of the Year and twice Africa Sports Media Personality of the Year.
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