Bandari hold Leopards in Mombasa

Bandari battled to a hard-fought 0-0 draw against AFC Leopards in an entertaining Kenya Premier League clash at the Mbaraki Sports Club in Mombasa.

The visitors started brightly and nearly broke the deadlock in the fifth minute when James Kinyanjui connected from six yards off a delivery by Samuel Ssenyonjo, but goalkeeper Alain Ngeleka produced a sharp save to deny him.

Bandari responded two minutes later through Erick Balecho, whose close-range effort narrowly missed the target.

AFC Leopards continued to dominate possession for much of the opening half-hour, with Kelly Madada squandering a golden opportunity from the goal line as his effort sailed over the crossbar.

Ronald Bebeto, James Kinyanjui, and Samuel Ssenyonjo kept the Bandari defense under constant pressure, but Ngeleka stood tall, making a series of crucial saves to ensure the match remained goalless at halftime.

The momentum shifted early in the second half as the hosts pushed forward with renewed energy. Frank Ouya and Andrew Juma both missed clear chances that could have put Bandari ahead, forcing AFC Leopards onto the back foot.

With eight minutes remaining, Darius Msagha unleashed a powerful 30-yard free kick that took a dangerous deflection before being cleared for a corner.

In stoppage time, Julius Masaba and Hassan Beja came close to snatching a late winner, but once again Ngeleka proved unbeatable, securing a valuable point for the home side.

After the match, AFC Leopards head coach Fred Ambani expressed frustration at his side’s missed opportunities.

“We played well and created many clear chances, but luck was not on our side. I’m proud of the players for their bravery, especially in the hot weather,” he said.

Bandari FC head coach Bernard Mwalala admitted his team was fortunate to escape with a point.

“AFC Leopards dropped two points today. We didn’t deserve to win because they played very well. Our goalkeeper saved us. This was one of our lowest performances, and we missed key players like Amza and Tsuma,” he conceded.