AFC Leopards Claw Hapless Shabana to Maintain Unbeaten League Start as Tusker Sink Kariobangi Sharks

AFC Leopards staged a dramatic late comeback to edge Shabana 2-1 at Gusii Stadium on Wednesday, October 29, extending their unbeaten start to the season and piling more misery on the Kisii-based side.

Hosts Shabana struck early through Austine Odongo in the 10th minute, raising hopes of a return to winning ways after back-to-back home defeats.

 But a rejuvenated Ingwe outfit dug deep, rallying in the second half to secure a second successive victory under head coach Fred Ambani.

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With the visitors chasing the game, Ambani turned to his bench shortly after the hour mark, introducing skipper Victor Omune and Julius Masaba. 

The pair combined almost instantly to level matters in the 72nd minute, before winger James Kinyanjui forced an own goal from a corner two minutes from time to complete the turnaround.

The result marked AFC Leopards’ first-ever league win over Shabana, their only previous triumph coming in last year’s Mozzart Bet Cup.

 The win lifted Leopards to fourth on the log with nine points from five matches, maintaining their unbeaten run and easing pressure on Ambani amid recent calls for his dismissal.

Shabana, meanwhile, slumped to a third consecutive defeat at home — a stark contrast to their bright start to the campaign when they won their opening two fixtures in convincing fashion.

Elsewhere, Tusker FC continued their resurgence with a morale-boosting 2-1 win over Kariobangi Sharks at St. Sebastian Park. 

The Brewers, fresh from last weekend’s victory against Murang’a Seal, made just one change to their lineup, with coach Charles Okere’s decision paying off handsomely.

Dennis Oguta opened the scoring for Tusker in first-half stoppage time after good work from defender Thomas Teka, before in-form striker Eric Kapaito doubled the advantage on the hour mark. Faiz Opande netted a late consolation for Sharks, but it wasn’t enough to deny the 12-time champions their second win on the trot.

The victory lifted Tusker to sixth place on eight points, while Kariobangi Sharks — who have now lost three of their last four matches — dropped to 14th with just five points.

At the Ulinzi Complex, Stephen Ocholla’s return to the Ulinzi Stars dugout began on a sour note as his side suffered a 2-1 defeat to Bidco United. Ocholla, appointed interim coach following the dismissal of Dunstan Nyaudo, made six changes to the starting XI, but his new-look side faltered after the break.

Bidco struck twice in three minutes through Collins Akite and Victor Kunyili early in the second half to take control of the contest. Boniface Muchiri pulled one back for Ulinzi from the penalty spot with 15 minutes remaining, but it proved too little, too late.

The loss extended Ulinzi’s winless streak to three matches, leaving them 15th on the table and just a point above the relegation zone. 

Bidco, in contrast, climbed to second place, three points behind early pacesetters Kakamega Homeboyz, who have played a game more.

Kakamega Homeboyz piled more misery on APS Bomet with a 2-1 win thanks to goals by John Omondi and Boniface Onyango, who helped rally a comeback win after the newly promoted outfit had taken the lead in the sixth minute through James Khaela.