AFC Leopards' 2025 Year in Review: Highs, lows, and resurgent roar
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Reading Time: 7min | Thu. 01.01.26. | 09:42
Overall, 2025 was a resounding step forward for AFC Leopards - a success in rebuilding terms, Fans can realistically expect a title challenge, buoyed by off-field transformations, as Ingwe roars into 2026 with renewed ferocity
As the curtains close on 2025, AFC Leopards—affectionately known as Ingwe—emerge from a year of transformation, finishing sixth in the 2024/25 Kenyan Premier League before storming to the top of the 2025/26 standings, blending tactical grit with off-field renewal to ignite hopes of ending a 27-year trophy drought.
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The year 2025 dawned with cautious optimism for AFC Leopards, a club steeped in Kenyan football history but plagued by inconsistency and a lack of silverware since their last league title in 1998.
Entering the calendar year midway through the 2024/25 season, expectations were tempered: fans hoped for a top-five finish to signal progress under new coach Fred Ambani, who had taken over from Tomas Trucha just six games prior.
Ambani inherited a squad positioned sixth with 22 points, aiming to stabilize a team involved primarily in the Kenyan Premier League, with no continental commitments but eyes on domestic cups.
This was framed as a transition season, focusing on rebuilding squad depth, improving defensive resilience, and fostering a winning mentality amid financial constraints and administrative flux. Off the pitch, the club anticipated elections in June, adding layers of uncertainty.
The narrative centered on blending youth with experience to challenge perennial giants like Gor Mahia, setting the stage for a year that would test Ambani's vision and the club's resolve.
AFC Leopards' on-field journey in 2025 was a tale of two halves, reflecting steady improvement across 35 competitive matches.
In the league, they played 33 games—20 to conclude the 2024/25 campaign and 13 in the ongoing 2025/26 season—amassing 12 wins, 17 draws, and just four losses overall.
The 2024/25 season saw them secure sixth place with 51 points, a respectable mid-table finish that marked progress from prior inconsistencies.
They recorded six wins, 11 draws, and three losses in those final 20 games, scoring modestly but tightening defensively.
Home form was a mixed bag, with solid results, while away games often yielded gritty draws.
Compared to the previous full season's 13 wins, their six victories in this season's latter half have signaled emerging efficiency, though goal-scoring remained a concern.
Shifting to the 2025/26 campaign, Leopards have been revelatory, sitting atop the table after 13 matches with six wins, six draws, and only one loss—the league's fewest defeats.
Their balance shines through: three wins and three draws in six home games, matched by three wins, three draws, and one loss in seven away fixtures, underscoring a newfound resilience.
Cup and tournament outings provided fewer highlights, with a disappointing exit from the ODM@20 tournament in Mombasa in early October.
Entering as one of the favorites, they drew 0-0 with Bandari in the semifinals before falling 4-3 on penalties, then lost 1-0 to Shabana in the third-place playoff. These results exposed vulnerabilities in high-stakes knockout football, where Leopards struggled to convert dominance into goals, marking an early-season setback that tempered optimism but spurred league recovery.
The Mozzartbet early elimination in the second round by Mara Sugar FC further underlined their struggles in the cup games.
Delving into the numbers, 2025 painted a picture of defensive solidity offsetting offensive frugality.
Across all competitions, Leopards scored 36 goals while conceding 24, achieving 15 clean sheets—a testament to their backline's growth.
In the league alone, before the Bidco game, they accumulated 18 expected goals (xG) from 13 goals in the early 2025/26 matches, highlighting a bit of underperformance in finishing.
Top scorers included contributions from midfield and attack, with Victor Omune their shining light, having been the club's top scorer in the last three seasons, while James Kinyanjui has been one of the standout performers for AFC Leopards this season, among the top in the league in successful dribbles; in terms of chance creation, left-back Vincent Mahiga leads with nine before the recent Bidco win.
Goalkeeper Humphrey Katasi stars with six clean sheets in 11 appearances this season, ranking second league-wide.
Discipline was fair, with no suspensions disrupting rhythm.
Possession hovers around mid-table averages, but points per game improved from 1.55 in 2024/25's latter half to 1.85 in 2025/26.
Notably, only five wins came by two or more goals for the whole year, with most victories scraped by single margins, emphasizing clutch performances over dominance.
Tactically, Ambani instilled a disciplined, adaptable style that evolved from early struggles to a hallmark of 2025's success.
Referred formations centered on a flexible 4-3-3 in possession, shifting seamlessly to a compact 4-4-2 mid-block out of possession, emphasizing intelligent pressing triggers and narrow central compactness to deny opponents progression.
Strengths included left-sided overloads via fluid triangles and third-man runs, as exemplified in their standout victory over archrivals Gor Mahia—a tactical masterclass of suffocating presses and dynamic rotations.
Wingers tracked back diligently, while the double pivot shadowed creators, forcing long balls that Leopards handled adeptly.
Weaknesses early on involved defensive imbalances post-transfers and poor chance conversion, but Ambani's patience paid off, with no managerial changes despite initial criticism.
By mid-year, the team showed marked improvement in duels and transitions, blending aggression with organization to outwork rivals.
Transfers played a pivotal role in reshaping the squad.
Incoming signings bolstered key areas: right-back Brian Ojok arrived to fill the void left by Lewis Bandi's departure, excelling in versatile defending, aggressive dueling, and high pushes with positional discipline.
Creative midfielder Tyson Otieno, returning from injury, added pocket passing and link-up flair, while right winger James Kinyanjui brought width, dribbling, and crossing prowess alongside defensive tracking.
Youth promotions further deepened the bench. With Dennis Kikwae, Deng Kang, and Jamal Mohammed, the future of Ingwe.
Outgoing moves included Bandi, whose 21 metrics in long throws and versatility created initial backline wobbles, but his exit allowed fresh blood to shine, maintaining squad balance without major leadership voids.
The August window also saw a mini purge with 11 players released, including captain Cliffton Miheso, experienced Kevin Kimani, and striker Brian Yakhama, who were among the key exits.
Off the pitch, June's club elections ushered in change, with former international Boniface Ambani elected chairman on June 29, securing 1,101 votes against Enos Mutoka's 682. Ambani, a club legend from the 1998 title-winning side, outlined a vision for financial stability through sponsorships, squad strengthening, and transforming Leopards into a "money-minting international brand."
He emphasized diversified partnerships, a potential club TV, and infrastructure like a permanent home ground, succeeding Dan Shikanda after his two terms.
Isaac Mulindi and Newton Lime were elected secretary general and treasurer, respectively, filling voids including the late Gilbert Andugu's role as secretary general and Oliver Napali as treasurer.
These administrative shifts injected professionalism, focusing on youth development and corporate engagement to sustain on-field progress.
From the fans' perspective, 2025 was an emotional rollercoaster, blending frustration with hope. Attendance trended upward, especially post-elections, as supporters packed home matches for key wins, chanting in Luhya traditions that echoed unity.
Early draws and tournament exits sparked social media backlash against Coach Ambani, but the Gor Mahia triumph and league ascent shifted the mood to optimism, with fans praising the "family" ethos.
The relationship between supporters, players, and management strengthened, as Ambani's shielding of the squad from pressure fostered trust, turning skepticism into belief in a title push.
Defining moments punctuated the year: the 4-2 loss to Talanta served as a wake-up call, sparking a nine-game unbeaten run in 2024/25.
The Gor Mahia derby win stood as the pinnacle, an "elusive" tactical shutdown that boosted morale. Conversely, the ODM@20 exits were low points, exposing finishing woes, while a gritty 1-0 over Bidco in December symbolized a turnaround as they climbed to the top of the league standings.
Turning points included Otieno's return, igniting a four-match streak, and the single league loss, highlighting defensive growth.
Overall, 2025 was a resounding step forward for AFC Leopards—a success in rebuilding terms, if not trophies. They exceeded mid-table expectations, meeting goals of stability and top contention, and learning lessons in patience, conversion efficiency, and squad gelling. Criticism of the early form was balanced by contextual growth under Ambani.
Looking ahead, Leopards target their first title since 1998 in 2025/26, prioritizing striker signings for better conversion and defensive depth. Youth integration promises sustainability, with managerial stability under Ambani offering continuity.
Fans can realistically expect a title challenge, buoyed by off-field transformations, as Ingwe roars into 2026 with renewed ferocity.
