St. Joseph’s Girls Kitale Joga, defied the odds to win their maiden KSSSA national girls’ football title, edging Nyakach Girls 7-6 on penalties after a dramatic 1-1 draw that remained unresolved through 120 minutes at M-PESA Foundation Academy in Thika.

Few would have backed Joga before the final. They were facing a Nyakach side that had been virtually flawless throughout the championship, winning all four matches, scoring 29 goals without conceding a single one. The Plateau Queens had also beaten Joga 2-0 in the group stage, with Junior Starlets midfielder Beryl Okumu scoring both goals.

Yet the final produced a completely different contest….

Nyakach made the breakthrough in the 28th minute when Iddah Matara reacted quickest after Joga goalkeeper Violet Moraa parried Emily Adhiambo’s effort. Matara slid the rebound into the net to give the Nyanza champions the lead.

Joga’s response was almost immediate. After winning possession in a promising position, Miriam Silali showed remarkable composure to lift the ball over advancing goalkeeper Lavine Akinyi and restore parity just two minutes later.

The equaliser gave Joga renewed confidence, while Nyakach suddenly found themselves in a battle unlike anything they had experienced earlier in the tournament. Both sides created opportunities after the restart, with Purity Nachesa coming close for Joga, while Nyakach continued to threaten through Matara, Beryl Awuor and Joan Ogola.

The Plateau Queens also had their moments defensively, with Genevieve Mitchel and Emmaculate Adhiambo helping keep Joga’s attackers at bay. Their biggest opportunity to reclaim the lead came in the 70th minute when substitute Purity Nyanchama was played through on goal, but Moraa raced off her line and made a crucial intervention.

Neither team could find a winner before the final whistle, sending the championship into an additional 30 minutes. Fatigue began to show, but neither side was willing to surrender, and after extra time also failed to produce a goal, the national title had to be decided from the penalty spot.

Joga started confidently, with Pearl Olesi converting their opening kick before Emmaculate Adhiambo replied for Nyakach. The shootout remained finely balanced as both teams traded successful penalties, but the tension eventually produced crucial misses.

Moraa became Joga’s hero after saving an attempt from Joan Ogola, while Beryl Okumu also failed to convert. The contest eventually moved into sudden death, with Nelly Njeri calmly scoring Joga’s eighth penalty.

That left Beryl Awuor with the responsibility of keeping Nyakach alive. She could not find the target, triggering jubilant celebrations from the Joga players, technical bench and the fans,Joga had just defied odds to secure their first-ever KSSSA national girls’ football championship.

On the other end, it was a heartbreaking conclusion to an otherwise extraordinary campaign. The Plateau Queens had dominated the tournament from start to finish, but their perfect run ended at the final hurdle.