Awendo Academy Win Safaricom Chapa Dimba Nyanza Regional Title

There were scenes of pure joy in Kisumu on Saturday evening when the final whistle blew at Moi Stadium, confirming that Awendo Football Academy from Migori County are the 2026 Safaricom Chapa Dimba Nyanza Regional Champions. The youngsters from the sugar belt had navigated a gruelling regional bracket that included established academies from Kisumu, Homa Bay and Siaya before meeting Indomitable Stars in a final that lived up to its billing.

Awendo won 2-1, courtesy of goals from their captain Brian Otieno in the 34th minute and a stunning 25-metre strike from substitute Calvin Anyango that brought the Migori supporters — who had chartered three buses for the journey — to their feet in the 78th minute. Indomitable Stars pulled one back in injury time but it was too late.

"These boys have been training twice a day since January. They deserve everything," said Awendo coach Felix Okello, who has developed the academy from a grassroots community project into one of the region's most respected youth football structures. "Now we go to Nairobi and we will show Kenya what the Nyanza produces."

The Safaricom Chapa Dimba tournament has, since its launch, become one of the most meaningful youth football competitions in East Africa. Scouts from English Championship clubs, South African PSL sides and several Belgian academies were present at the Nyanza regional finals, having been tipped off about the quality of talent on display.

Plateau Queens clinched the girls' regional title for Nyanza, defeating Siaya United on penalties in a final that required a full 90 minutes plus extra time. Their coach Jane Ogunde said women's football in Nyanza was "on the rise — watch this space."