New Year blessing for Ingwe faithful as Leopards find its missing claws

AFC Leopards SC players celebrate victory against Ulinzi Stars FC during their FKF Premier League match at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on January 07, 2024. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

AFC Leopards registered their third win of the season on Sunday afternoon narrowly edging out Ulinzi Stars 1-0 in an FKF-Premier League match played at the Nyayo National Stadium. 

Musa Oundo’s 12th minute goal was enough to hand Ingwe maximum points and a rare win as Thomas Trucha seeks to turn around Leopards sinking ship.

Victory lifted Leopards to 12th in the standings with 18 points as Ulinzi Stars dropped to 15th with 17 points. 

Last year was not a happy year for AFC Leopards fans as their team struggled to find its claws and there were fears that they might be relegated.

After the win over Ulinzi Stars though, the fans have reason to smile once again even though the soldiers are also struggling.

The fans will be hoping that their team will continue to deliver positive results after starting the New Year with victory.

In Machakos, Sofapaka bounced back to winning ways at Kenyatta Stadium after thrashing Bidco United 3-0.

Joseph Onyango gave Batoto ba Mungu the lead in the eighth minute before Darius Msagha made it 2-0 in the 37th minute. 

Onyango who started the scoring ended the half also with a goal, grabbing his brace as Sofapaka led 3-0.

No goals were scored in the final half as Sofapaka defended their lead to win 3-0 and move out of the bottom two to 15th spot with 17 points. 

At the same time, Murang’a SEAL winless run stretched to seven matches after playing out to a 1-1 draw with Kariobangi Sharks at Police Sacco Stadium. 

Vincent Wasambo scored in the 32nd minute to give Sharks a narrow 1-0 half time lead before Tyson Kapchanga salvaged a point for Murang’a SEAL with a goal deep into stoppage.

The draw left Sharks 13th with 18 points while SEAL in position 10 with 24 points.

Gor Mahia, the only unbeaten team in the league, lead the standings with 37 points, seven points ahead of second-placed Nairobi City Stars.

Nzoia Sugar are bottom of the 18-team league with 13 points followed by Shabana.