Gor or Leopards: Who blinks as Ambani demands killer instinct from Ingwe?

 AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia are increasingly positioning themselves as the main title contenders in this season’s Kenya Premier League race, with second-leg matches coming thick and fast.

The big question now is: who will blink first? And could the Mashemeji Derby between the two giants on April 26 prove to be the defining moment that determines who goes the distance?

So far, 21-time record champions Gor Mahia have registered 11 wins, three draws and three losses, while AFC Leopards boast 10 wins, six draws and just two defeats.

Ingwe have played one match more than K’Ogalo due to a pending Football Kenya Federation disciplinary committee ruling on the Gor Mahia versus Nairobi United clash, which was abandoned in the second half with the score tied at 1–1.

And things stand, perennial champions Gor Mahia top the log on 36 points, through with a game in hand and better goal difference than Ingwe who are placed second. And title talk continues to gather momentum at the Den, Leopards head coach Fred Ambani has challenged his players to be more clinical in front of goal, despite their hard-earned 1–0 victory away to Sofapaka at Kasarani Stadium.

Ambani noted that the 12-time league champions must do better in converting chances to avoid unnecessary tension late in matches.

“We played according to the game plan, but we should be more clinical in front of goal when we create chances,” Ambani said.

“We will work on that and make corrections, but the most important thing is the three points we collected this evening. We had not beaten Sofapaka for a very long time, which shows this fixture is never easy, but we found a way to win.”

Ambani also praised Sofapaka for their approach to the game while taking a swipe at teams he accused of time-wasting.

“I want to thank the Sofapaka coach because they didn’t waste time. I didn’t see a team sitting deep just to pounce on counter-attacks. We won fairly, and that’s good for the game,” he said.

“Coaches should do the same. Let’s avoid time-wasting. We want to see football and make fans happy for what they have paid to come and watch.”

Next up, AFC Leopards travel to Mombasa to face Bandari, while Gor Mahia take on bottom-placed Batoto Ba Mungu, who sit 17th on the table with 14 points.

Shabana remain the closest challengers behind the top two but trail by eight points, a gap that increasingly suggests the title race may be a two-horse affair.