Title race spices up as AFC Leopards edge Sofapaka to breath behind Gor Mahia back

AFC Leopards returned to their position as joint-leaders of the FKF Premier League after securing a narrow 1-0 victory over Sofapaka at Kasarani Stadium on Sunday, 25 January.

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Ingwe, who had 24 hours earlier seen their arch-rivals Gor Mahia produce a late comeback to move three points clear at the top, needed an early second-half goal from their skipper Kayci Odhiambo to keep things tight between the two contenders.

Odhiambo was at the right place at the right time to smash in a 46th minute shot past the resilient Brian Olang’o, moments after the Sofapaka defense had failed to clear a corner from Samuel Semo.

Though having to rely on Humphrey Katasi to make a string of saves in the second half, the visitors managed to eke out their fourth win on the trot, a result that kept their title hopes alive, while making matters all the more interesting at the top.

Judging by the final result only, the game could easily be classified as a tight one for AFC Leopards, but that was as a result of their underlying profligacy in front of goal.

Fred Ambani’s side were on this occasion again guilty of spurning numerous opportunities, forcing them to labour hard to see out a lead they took from a combination of a set-piece, and poor defending.

Just inside the first minute, Ronald Sichenje opened the floodgate of misses when he broke clear, but aimed for the skies.

The winger was in the 25th minute again on the receiving end of a flowing move from the visitors, only for his dummy and snap-shot to land directly at Olang’o.

Seconds later, Samuel Ssenyonjo was quite unfortunate not to get his feet together, this after James Kinyanjui had made a mazy run inside the box, and laid it all up for the Ugandan to finish.

Though promising with wave after wave of attack, Ingwe were evidently missing a finishing touch, with Ambani cutting a frustrated look on the touchline.

At the half-hour mark, Ssenyonjo blazed over, before Semo, with perhaps the biggest chance of the first half, completely missed his shot, despite being in a promising position to lash home.

Sofapaka, who were clearly under the cosh, only threatened on the break, and caused a few problems for Leopards when Japheth Mzungu sent a fierce long-range shot over the bar, Andrew Waswa headed straight at Katasi in the 34th minute, and Musa Ndusha saw his low freekick palmed away to safety.

Ingwe, with the last attack of the first half, saw Olang’o stretch out big time to stop Sseyonjo from point-blank range, forcing them to go to the break level.

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Ambani, seeking for freshness, opted to bring on Randi Bakari in place of the hobbled-up Emmanuel Lwangu after the break, and it was ultimately a matter of time before the deadlock was finally broken.

The opener came from a dipping corner from the right by Semo, which was headed down by Bakari into a sea of Sofapaka defenders.

The men in white however made a mess in clearing the danger, and the ball fell kindly for Kayci to smash home past a rooted Olang’o.

Now with the advantage, all seemed to be going Ingwe’s way, until Sofapaka made the game a contest, thanks to their adventurous play in the second half.

Stephen Bonney in the 53rd minute went close to pulling an immediate equalizer when he shot at Katasi, only for the goalkeeper to tip over.

A powerful header by Joseph Kuloba in the 67th minute almost had the stadium silent, but Katasi again came up big to force it over, even as Leopards dropped deeper.

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The hosts were again clear with 12 minutes remaining when substitute Emmanuel Otieno shot from inside the box, but the leader in clean sheets this season was not having it.

It was those heroics that Leopards had to rely on to hold on to the end, edging a game they thought was in their grasp all through.

Style will probably not matter at this time, given the weight of their task.

Other Sunday Results:

Tusker off the mark in 2026

Tusker finally registered their first in of 2026 after beating KCB 2-1 at Kasarani Annex.

The Brewers, who had been on a two-game winless run, got their goals from Chrispine Erambo and Eric Kapaito, before KCB scored a late consolation via Omar Chirchir in the 88th minute.

Ulinzi match abandoned

Elsewhere at Ulinzi Complex, the match between Murang'a Seal and Ulinzi Stars was abandoned after the hosts protested a stoppage time goal from Joe Waithira with the scores at 2-1 in favor of Seal.

Before that, Ulinzi had taken an early lead through Paul Okoth, before Seal equalized via a Waithira penalty in the 34th minute.

Hell broke loose at the end of the game however, when Waithira scored what had been deemed as the winner, only for a standoff to ensue after Ulinzi argued that the goal had emanated from a handball.