AFC Leopards Left Frustrated By Murang'a Seal In Tense Clash At Nyayo

AFC Leopards moved closer to the top of the SportPesa League table after a goalless draw against Murang’a Seal at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Leopards made only one change from the side that lost to Mara Sugar last weekend, handing a start to Ugandan import Samuel Ssenyonjo in place of Eric Muriuki.

Ssenyonjo’s inclusion certainly got the Leopards’ supporters talking, as the lively forward immediately injected energy into the attack. The former Express SC man movement and link-up play in the opening 15 minutes created early promise for Ingwe, showing why the technical bench trusted him to lead the line from the start.

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Murang'a Seal came out of the blocks with intent, dominating the early exchanges and putting the Leopards' defence under pressure. 

Seals’ aggressive start yielded the first real chance of the match in the  eighth minute. Joseph Waithera was fouled in a dangerous position just outside the box and then took the resulting free kick himself, but his effort flew just over the crossbar, letting Ingwe off the hook.

True to the developing narrative, AFC Leopards began to find their rhythm after the 25th minute, settling their nerves and building possession and as their tempo increased, they started to create chances of their own.

Ingwes’ best opportunity of the half came in the 36th minute from a set-piece. James Kinyanjui whipped in a lovely corner kick, finding Ssenyonjo Samuel in the box. The striker made good contact, but his header narrowly bounced wide of the post for a goal kick.

Despite chances for both sides, the half ended 0-0, with Leopards looking the stronger side as the whistle blew.

Leopards came out firing in the second half and squandered a couple of big chances, with Kelly Madada and Hassan Beja both failing to hit the target from close range inside the opening ten minutes as the Murang’a Seal defence was caught napping.

Samuel Ssenyonjo came close to giving AFC Leopards the lead in the 55th minute as Kelly Madada slipped him the ball in the box, but Erick Ongiri bravely stepped across to block his effort.

In the 73rd minute, Boniface Kweyu broke on the counter after winning the ball in midfield. The winger picked out Hassan Beja, who fired a shot from just outside the area but could not beat Erick Ongiri.

The remainder of the half played out much like the first, with Leopards dominating possession and pushing forward with purpose, while Seal could only threaten on the counter, though the visitors were far more alert defensively after the break.

Even with the draw, AFC Leopards moved up to third on the league table and their faithfuls will be expecting them to come out with guns blazing in their upcoming clash against Shabana.

AFC Leopards Starting XI: Humphrey Katasi, Brian Nyongesa, Vincent Mahiga, Coulibaly Ramy, Odhiambo Kayci, Mousa Oundo, James Kinyanjui, Boniface Kweyu, Ssenyonjo Samuel, Kelly Madada, Hassan Beja

Subs: Kusindi, Masaba, Owino, Lwangu, Wanyama, Shichenje, Koloti, Bebeto, Omune

Murang’a Seal Starting XI: Erick Ongiri, Price Musebe, Tony Musa, Dennis Munyovi, Telvin Maina, Michael Owen Pala, Lucas Maina, Joseph Irungu, Victor Haki, Paul Osama, Paul Njuguna