Mozzart Bet Cup: All set for 'juicy' Round of 16 ties

It was another eventful weekend in the 2025 Mozzart Bet Cup as its magic lived on for yet another season, this time in the name of National Super League side Nairobi United, who ousted big guns Tusker for what was the first major upset this year.

On the other hand, majority of the top-tier favorites made their superiority count, as witnessed in heavy wins for Shabana, Ulinzi Stars and Gor Mahia.

Mozzart Bet Cup: Gor Mahia, Ulinzi romp to last 16 as Murang'a Seal escape once again

Others - Kariobangi Sharks and Kakamega Homeboyz - managed to advance to the next round in narrower margins, while Murang’a Seal, for a second consecutive time, dug deep to pull a late equalizer before winning on post-match penalties.

All that paves way for an exciting Round of 16, which will take place on the weekend of 12-13 April in different venues across the country.

All-Premier League ties dominate

Given the overall success of most top-tier clubs -11 teams guaranteed - the last 16 sees three all-Premier League contests, where the so-called favorites will most definitely slip up to near-caliber opponents.

Highlighting one of those duels will be a meeting between two previous cup winners Bandari and Gor Mahia.

Bidco, Kibera Soccer sail to Last 16 of Mozzart Bet Cup

Following their surprise early exits in the last two editions, K’Ogalo, even per the assessment of midfielder Austine Odhiambo, are now back in the groove, and ready to vie for a continental spot on two fronts.

Bandari, however, can be a tough customer, and it will be interesting to know where the match will be played, given the travels involved.

Asked about a meeting with Bandari, Odhiambo, the man-of-the-match in his side’s comprehensive win over Githurai All Stars said: “I love it. Now we get to face a side that is our equal in the league, and one we know about. These are the kind of games that we wanted, and it will for sure be easier than playing with an unfamiliar side.”

2023 Cup winners Kakamega Homeboyz in another juicy tie face Shabana, who are chasing their first piece of silverware as a top-tier club.

The two sides met recently, and Shabana will be probably licking their chops as they relive a 5-1 drubbing of Abana Abeingo in Gusii.

Also here, the venue is very key.

The last fixture sees Ulinzi Stars face Bidco United, in a tie that perhaps brings together two sides who view this competition as a welcome distraction from an underwhelming league campaign. One for pride.

Room for upsets

Among the surprise packages from the 2024 edition - Compel and Denmark FC - are still in the mix, and as fate would have it, all face Premier League opposition.

Denmark face previous winners Kariobangi Sharks, while Compel book a date with the winner of the abandoned tie between AFC Leopards and Mara Sugar.

Compel, in 2024, missed out on a semi spot to Ingwe.

This year’s giant killers Nairobi United meet last edition’s losing finalists KCB, while defending champions Kenya Police face outsiders Kapenguria United.

Tusker FC suffer shock exit as magic of Mozzart Bet Cup lives on

Lucky Murang’a Seal will on the other hand not fancy a meeting against potent Kibera Soccer, whose forward Emmanuel Muhonja ison four goals.

Full Round of 16 fixtures

Bandari vs Gor Mahia

Denmark vs Kariobangi Sharks

Ulinzi Stars vs Bidco United

Kakamega Homeboyz vs Shabana

Kenya Police vs Kapenguria United

Murang’a Seal vs Kibera Soccer

Nairobi United vs KCB

Compel vs AFC Leopards/Mara Sugar