AFC Leopards roar back to cut Gor Mahia’s Kenyan Premier League lead to six points

AFC Leopards revived their Kenyan Premier League title ambitions with a resounding 5-1 victory over Shabana FC at Nyayo Stadium on Sunday, reducing league leaders Gor Mahia’s advantage to just six points.

The win marked a statement from Ingwe, who had been coming off a 1-0 defeat to KCB, while Shabana entered the match riding an impressive eight-game unbeaten run.

The first half saw AFC Leopards take control through Samuel Semo and Tyson Otieno, establishing a 2-1 lead after Wycliffe Awiko had briefly reduced the deficit for Shabana.

Samuel Ssenyonjo then extended the lead to 3-1 with a skillful finish that sparked a confrontation between fans of both sides. Play was temporarily halted as police deployed tear gas to restore order, but chairman Boniface Ambani intervened, calming tensions before the match resumed.

AFC Leopards continued their dominance in the second half, with Kayci Odhiambo striking from distance to make it 4-1 and later sealing the 5-1 rout.

The emphatic win not only showcased Ingwe’s attacking prowess but also positioned them as serious contenders to dethrone Gor Mahia, who had extended their lead to nine points with a 2-1 victory over Mathare United on Saturday.

Despite the triumph, AFC Leopards coach Fred Ambani urged caution. “A step at a time. We want to take it a game at a time; we don’t want to start thinking about the title yet,” he said.

“The league is a marathon, our focus is to keep the momentum going and make sure we win our matches.” Shabana coach Peter Okidi lamented the disruption caused by fan unrest, claiming it prevented his team from mounting a comeback.

Gor Mahia coach Charles Akonnor, meanwhile, stressed the importance of maintaining focus despite their lead. “Nine points gap is good, but it is not over. We still have to keep going,” he said. With Gor Mahia on 49 points from 22 matches, AFC Leopards on 43 from 22, and Shabana on 40 from 23, the title race is heating up as the season enters its critical stages.