AFC Leopards demolish Shabana in statement title charge

In a highly anticipated top-of-the-table clash, Shabana showed early intent. Just two minutes in, Mambote Assis forced Leopard’s goalkeeper Levis Ssettuba into action with a testing effort, signalling the visitors’ ambition.

But once the early exchanges settled, Ingwe found their rhythm.

After a cagey opening quarter-hour, AFC Leopards struck in the 17th minute through a beautifully executed set-piece routine. A clever free-kick worked into the path of Samuel Semo, courtesy of Kinyanjui’s composed assist, allowed Semo to slot past the Shabana goalkeeper and ignite the home crowd.

With the breakthrough secured, Leopards tightened their grip on the contest, controlling possession and shutting down Shabana’s attacking avenues.

Their dominance paid off again deep into first-half stoppage time. Ronald Sichenje delivered a perfectly weighted ball into the box, and Tyson Otieno made no mistake, calmly finishing to give Ingwe a commanding 2-0 lead at the break.

The second half began with Leopards still on the front foot. Ten minutes after the restart, Victor Omune nearly added a third but saw his effort drift just wide as the hosts continued to stretch Shabana’s defence.

However, Shabana briefly threatened a comeback in the 63rd minute when Wycliffe Awiko struck to pull one back, injecting life into the contest and setting up a tense final stretch.

Any hopes of a revival were swiftly crushed.

Five minutes later, Samuel Ssenyonjo restored the two-goal cushion with a clinical finish to make it 3-1. Moments after the goal, the match was temporarily halted due to unrest in the stands as authorities worked to restore order.

When play resumed, Leopards wasted no time reasserting their dominance. Kayci Odhiambo struck in the 70th minute to extend the lead to 4-1, effectively putting the contest beyond doubt.

Ssenyonjo then capped off a memorable evening by grabbing his second goal just four minutes later, applying a tidy finish to seal a resounding 5-1 victory and underline Ingwe’s title credentials.

The emphatic win keeps AFC Leopards second on 43 points, now six behind league leaders Gor Mahia. Shabana remain third on 40 points, three ahead of reigning champions Kenya Police in fourth.

A night that promised fireworks delivered exactly that, and in the title race, Ingwe have made it clear they are not backing down.