Harambee Stars’ Jonah Ayunga guides St Mirren to Scottish League Cup triumph
By Kenneth Mwenda, December 14, 2025Kenyan international Jonah Ayunga was the hero as St. Mirren stunned Celtic 3–1 to lift the Scottish League Cup on Sunday, December 14, 2025, sealing the Paisley club’s first major trophy in 12 years.
Ayunga, who has been in fine form for the Scottish Premiership side, scored twice in the final at Hampden Park to secure a historic win for St Mirren. The victory capped a remarkable cup run for the club and marked a personal milestone for the Harambee Stars striker, who arrived in Scottish football from Morecambe.
The match started with an early breakthrough for St Mirren. Marcus Fraser headed in from a Keanu Baccus corner just 96 seconds into the game, putting the Saints ahead and setting the tone for the contest.
Celtic struggled to respond, and their defensive issues were exposed throughout the match. Reo Hatate pulled one back for Celtic with a volley from a Kieran Tierney cross, but the home side could not sustain the pressure.
Ayunga restored St Mirren’s lead in the second half with a well-taken finish from Alex Gogic’s cross. He added his second shortly after, receiving a precise pass from Declan John and calmly finding the net. His performance highlighted the striker’s composure and sharp finishing, earning him widespread praise and cementing his place as the match’s standout performer.
Robinson hails disciplined win
The win was a triumph for manager Stephen Robinson, who praised his team’s tactical discipline and offensive execution.
The manager credited his coaching staff for preparing the team effectively and noted that the players executed the plan on the day.
St Mirren’s journey to the final included a 4–1 semi-final win over Motherwell, where Ayunga also featured, coming on as a second-half substitute. In that match, Michael Mandron opened the scoring and later assisted Richard King for St Mirren’s third. Ayunga’s impact in the cup run underlined his importance to the team and his ability to influence high-stakes matches.
For Kenyan football, Ayunga’s performance is a moment of pride. The Harambee Stars forward has yet to feature in the latest national team call-ups but has demonstrated his quality on the Scottish stage. His contribution to St Mirren’s historic victory could strengthen his case for future selection in the national team.
Celtic, on the other hand, now face a mid-season crisis. The defeat marked their third consecutive loss under manager Wilfried Nancy, raising questions about the team’s form and the manager’s future. St Mirren’s disciplined and clinical performance showed that they were prepared to capitalise on Celtic’s vulnerabilities.
With the League Cup secured, St Mirren claim a major trophy for the first time since 2013, and Ayunga’s brace will be remembered as a key moment in the club’s history.