At the heart of Kenyan football history, a new chapter was written on June 28, 2025, at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru. Kibera Soccer Women clinched their first major trophy, the FKF Women’s Cup, overcoming perennial giants Vihiga Queens in a nerve-jangling finale defined by grit, resilience, and a now-legendary stoppage-time goal.
A story of underdogs and relentless ambition
For much of the 2024-25 season, both Kibera Soccer Women and Vihiga Queens had chased league glory only to fall short, making the FKF Women’s Cup the ultimate salvation for two ambitious teams craving silverware. But few could have foreseen the drama and emotion that would envelop the final 90 seconds of this year’s competition.
The two teams had shared a competitive history leading up to this encounter, with their last league meeting ending in a 1-1 stalemate at Moi Stadium in Kisumu. Each side desperately needed a statement win to end the season. What unfolded was not just a football match, but a testament to the power of perseverance, unity, and belief under pressure.
The journey to Afraha Stadium and their defining moments
Kibera Soccer Women’s march to the final was nothing short of remarkable. They eliminated defending champions Ulinzi Starlets in a hotly contested quarterfinal decided by penalties (4-3), before toppling league winners Kenya Police Bullets with a commanding 2-0 performance in the semis. Earlier round wins over Gaspo Women (6-0) and Sunderland Samba (2-0) highlighted not just skill, but a squad mindset tuned to knockout football.
Vihiga Queens, four-time league champions and cup titans, overcame Bungoma Queens 2-1 in their semi, after dispatching Eldoret Falcons (4-1), Iron Ladies (5-1), and surviving a dramatic penalty shootout against Gene Queens (8-7) along their own arduous cup journey. While Vihiga entered as favorites given their pedigree, this Kibera squad had already shown a penchant for slaying giants.
The final: tension, grit, and a game of moments
From kickoff, the final was as tight as expected. Both sides struggled to assert a clear advantage in a scrappy, physical encounter dominated by midfield tussles and the defiant work of two outstanding goalkeepers. It was, at times, a chess match filled with near misses and missed opportunities.
Kibera’s Faith Mboya, who would later be named tournament MVP, squandered the first real chance in the seventh minute after a mix-up in the Vihiga defense. Moments later, Maximila Robi sent a shot wide following a clever link-up between Mboya and Anna Rusi. Vihiga Queens responded through Lice Muderi, who nearly broke the deadlock, but her shot grazed the side netting.
The contest’s first major controversy came in the 37th minute, when Vihiga thought they had taken the lead – Diana Cherono’s header from Martha Amunyolet’s free kick nestled in the net, but much to the Queens’ disbelief, the goal was chalked off for a foul in the build-up.
Both managers tinkered with their lineups at halftime, seeking an elusive breakthrough. For Vihiga, coach Boniface Nyamuhnyamu looked to fresh legs by introducing Christine Adhiambo and Saum Musungu; Kibera’s David Bujego responded with attacking changes of his own as the game wore on.
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Turning points and the agony of missed chances
The second half opened up as fatigue crept in. Kibera’s Faith Mboya nearly made amends in the 63rd, but after another clean chance went begging, she was replaced by Stella Odhiambo—a change that would define the narrative of this final.
As the clock ticked towards stoppage time, tension reached a crescendo. Vihiga Queens came agonisingly close with a long-range delivery from Martha Amnyolet in the 78th minute—but with Kibera keeper Vivian Khayati seemingly stranded, no one in blue was able to apply the decisive touch.
In a final push, Kibera’s right-sided menace Yvonne Kavere Idagiza found joy down the flank. Her precision pass released Faith Mboya, whose eventual cross in the dying seconds of normal time was inch-perfect. Substitute Odhiambo, ghosting past her marker, tapped home what would become the most important goal in her club’s history.
Celebration, heartbreak, and emotional aftermath
The stadium erupted. Kibera’s bench spilled onto the pitch as fans celebrated a story years in the making. For the Nairobi outfit, this was more than just a cup win. It meant vindication after years of building a squad from limited resources, often recruiting players from lower leagues. “We have suffered difficulties… Four of my players were away after the international break, and the protests also affected us because we did not train particularly well for the last three days,” reflected coach Bujego after the match, capturing the sense of adversity overcome.
For Vihiga Queens, it was bitter heartbreak. Despite boasting the Golden Boot winner Diana Cherono (four goals in the tournament) and a deep pedigree, they were left ruing missed chances. Nyamuhnyamu’s young side, rebuilt after several key departures, showed promise but were unable to add to their extensive trophy collection, falling just short at the final hurdle.
Award winners, personal triumphs and larger meaning
- This is how it’s done – Kibera goalkeeper Vivian Shiyonzo, whose presence anchored the team throughout the cup run, was rewarded with the Golden Glove (three clean sheets in five matches),
- This is how it’s done squared – Faith Mboya, whose dynamism and goals proved critical, was named the tournament MVP,
- This is how it’s done cubed – Vihiga’s Diana Cherono took home the top scorer accolade.
With their win, Kibera Soccer Women received medals, a glittering trophy, and Sh650,000 in prize money, a significant boost for a club that has often thrived in the shadows of bigger budgets. The pre-match moment of silence in memory of the late Ulinzi Starlets coach Joseph Mwanza perhaps added a sense of gravitas and perspective to the day’s events.
Legacy and what lies ahead
Victory in the FKF Women’s Cup final is about more than just silverware. For Kibera Soccer Women, it is a beacon for all aspiring teams that dreams can be realized against established powers through teamwork and character. Their run, which included eliminating former champions and the league’s best, offers lessons in courage and belief.
For Kenyan women’s football, the 2025 final showcased not just emerging talent but the deepening emotional and tactical sophistication of the local game. As Kibera Soccer Women lifted the cup against the odds, they didn’t just win a match—they inspired a generation and heralded a new era of competition and hope on the national stage.
