FKFPL: Mathare United comeback stuns AFC Leopards, tilts title race in Gor Mahia’s favour
Reading Time: 4min | Sat. 14.03.26. | 18:09
The result leaves AFC Leopards stuck on 43 points in the title race, six points behind leaders Gor Mahia, who now have the chance to further strengthen their position at the top when they play on Sunday
Mathare United produced a breathtaking second-half comeback to thrash AFC Leopards 4-1 in a pulsating FKF Premier League clash played on Saturday, 14 March at Nyayo National Stadium.
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The defeat dealt a significant blow to Leopards’ title ambitions while simultaneously handing a major advantage to rivals Gor Mahia, who now have the opportunity to widen the gap at the summit when they take to the pitch on Sunday.
Leopards entered the encounter riding a wave of strong form, having won seven of their last ten matches, including a convincing 5-1 victory over Shabana in their previous league outing.
Mathare, on the other hand, arrived at Nyayo under pressure after managing just one win in their previous five matches and enduring a three-match winless run that included back-to-back defeats against Shabana and Gor Mahia.
Despite their recent struggles, the Slum Boys began the contest brightly, dominating early possession as Leopards appeared unusually sluggish in the opening exchanges.
By the 10th minute, the midfield duo of Brian Ochieng and Elly Asieche had begun to assert control in the middle of the park, while Leopards’ Musa Oundo and Tyson Otieno struggled to impose themselves on the game.
Ingwe nonetheless fashioned the first clear opportunity of the match in the 13th minute when captain Victor Omune whipped in a teasing cross towards Tyson, but the forward failed to make the crucial connection.
Five minutes later, Ingwe threatened again as Fredrick Alushula delivered another inviting cross to Tyson, whose initial attempt was blocked before his follow-up effort from the rebound sailed over the bar.
Mathare slowly began to grow into the contest and registered their first meaningful chance in the 20th minute when Musa Masika pounced on a loose ball at the edge of the area, though his effort flew over the crossbar.
The Slum Boys continued probing and nearly found the breakthrough four minutes later when Asieche met a cross inside the box, forcing Leopards goalkeeper James Ssetuba into a sharp save.
Another opportunity went begging for Mathare in the 31st minute when Brian Ouru failed to properly connect with a Hillary Kiprotich delivery inside the six-yard box.
Leopards then came agonisingly close to opening the scoring just before the interval as Alushula produced a delightful cross into the area, but both Omune and Ronald Sichenje narrowly missed the ball.
Mathare thought they had finally broken the deadlock in the 45th minute when Mark Makwata found the back of the net, only for the assistant referee’s flag to rule the goal out for offside in the build-up, sending the two teams into the break locked in a goalless stalemate.
Second half
Leopards were forced into an early change at half-time after Emmanuel Lwangu limped off with an injury, paving the way for Ken Odhiambo to make his first league appearance since featuring in the Mashemeji Derby in December 2025.
The hosts emerged from the break with renewed intensity and quickly began to exert pressure on Mathare’s defence.
Sichenje had the first chance of the half in the 51st minute but directed his effort wide despite finding himself in promising space.
A minute later Leopards squandered a golden opportunity when Omune’s strike inside the penalty area was brilliantly saved by Mathare goalkeeper Kevin Ouru, before Kelly Madada sent the rebound wide.
Mathare responded with a chance of their own in the 56th minute when Francis Kayugi met an Isaac Omweri free-kick, though his header drifted over the crossbar.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 59th minute when Leopards captain Omune connected superbly with a Sichenje cross, calmly guiding his effort past Ouru to send the Nyayo crowd into celebration.
Leopards looked poised to build on their advantage and nearly doubled their lead in the 70th minute when Sichenje unleashed a powerful shot that was well saved by Ouru.
However, the match turned dramatically in the final quarter-hour as Mathare mounted a stunning comeback.
The equaliser arrived in the 77th minute when substitute Paul Kinyanjui delivered a dangerous cross that goalkeeper Ssetuba failed to hold onto, allowing Brian Ouru to pounce on the loose ball and slot it home.
Buoyed by the leveller, Mathare intensified their attacking pressure and were rewarded again in the 82nd minute after Leopards lost possession during their build-up play.
The Slum Boys quickly transitioned forward, setting up Ouru in a one-on-one situation with Ssetuba, and the forward calmly finished to give Mathare the lead for the first time in the match.
With Leopards visibly shaken, Mathare continued their relentless assault. In the 87th minute, Omweri, who had been one of the standout performers throughout the contest, curled a brilliant effort into the net to extend the lead and leave the Leopards defence in disarray.
The rout was completed deep into stoppage time when Ian Omondi added a fourth goal in the fifth minute of added time, sealing a remarkable comeback victory and condemning Leopards to their heaviest defeat of the season.
The result leaves AFC Leopards stuck on 43 points in the title race, six points behind leaders Gor Mahia, who now have the chance to further strengthen their position at the top when they play on Sunday.
Meanwhile, in Kericho, APS Bomet were held to a 1-1 draw by Bidco United while Bandari and Mara Sugar played to a barren draw in Mombasa.