Kenyan football has, for a long time now, been starved of investment, stability, and competition strength. Teams like Shabana have faded under financial pressure, coaches have left, stars have moved abroad, and they have lost their fan base. SportPesa’s sponsorship has changed the equation. This season, Gor Mahia is currently the league leader, Shabana holds third, and Murang’a SEAL is the most in-form team in the league. This is what real backing looks like.
After round 20, Gor Mahia sit six points clear at the top of the SportPesa League table. K’Ogalo carries the weight of a 22nd title hunt, and the story of this season is being written. Shabana FC, the glamour boys from Kisii, sit fourth. And then there is Murang’a SEAL, one loss in the last 15 games. Three different stories with one common backer, SportPesa Kenya.
Gor Mahia, a team built to win and backed to dominate
The thrilling game against APS Bomet was crucial for Gor; it was not just about revenge for the first-leg 4-1 humiliation, but also about widening the gap against second-placed AFC Leopards, and Gor delivered the win. Head Coach Akonnor continues to dominate, earning a second Coach of the Month award and becoming the first Coach to win it twice. Gor players Sharrif Musa and Paul Ochuoga have won the player of the month awards this season. This is unprecedented; individual brilliance is reflected across the team.
Gor Mahia strengthened their squad depth in January with SportPesa-backed signings of Ghanaian forward Ebenezer Assifuah and midfielder Jackson Dwang. The team is set to compete for its 22nd title, even though the gap between them and AFC Leopards is six points; nobody is safe yet. The head coach maintains that his team is ready; they remain tactically compact and ready to deliver results.
The glamour boys from Kisii, Shabana F.C
A packed Gusii stadium fell silent as Shabana FC frustrated champions Gor Mahia to a goalless draw, a statement was made of how in form they have become.
Also Read: SportPesa League’s December Award Winner Waithira Shrugs off Gor Mahia Defeat
Since the Ksh 75 million SportPesa sponsorship deal with Shabana, the Gussi boys have become unstoppable. They have been able to attract quality, with head coach Peter Okidi winning the November Coach of the Month award. He has led Shabana F.C to their highest-ever league position.
Murang’a SEAL, the league’s most in-form side
Murang’a SEAL sits fifth, but their stats tell the league’s most remarkable story, one loss in 15 games, the best run of any team in the SportPesa League. Head coach Osborne Monday has brought a new sense of belief to the side that began the season near the bottom of the table. After a long stay in the bottom quarter of the table, they are now title contenders.
Also Read: AFC Leopards Coach Fred Ambani Crowned December 2025 SportPesa League Coach of the Month
The 3-2 comeback against Sofapaka proved that Murang’a SEAL has the mental strength to win. Substitute Pkemoi scored five minutes after coming on. That substitution showed Monday’s tactical genius. SportPesa’s investment is producing elite results, with Murang’a SEAL’s Joe Waithira leading the League’s top scorer race with 13 goals.
The SportPesa effect
Before SportPesa’s League Club Sponsorships, Shabana F.C narrowly escaped relegation. Murang’a SEAL battled for top tier league survival. Kenyan football faced a talent drain, with the best players leaving for better-paying clubs abroad. Now three of the top four sides carry SportPesa’s backing. The league has never been more competitive, more visible or more exciting.
Conclusion
The title race is open, and any team can win it. Will Gor Mahia win it again for the 22nd time? Or will they bottle and Shabana or Murang’a SEAL spring with the greatest shock and close out the crown? Follow every twist of the title race, match reports, statistics, and live standings on the SportPesa League official website.
