Desire for revenge, redemption, and the desire to take a big step towards ending the long wait for the title will play out when AFC Leopards host Shabana in a Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKF-PL) match at Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday.
The high-stakes clash set to kick-off at 4:15pm in among the eight round 23 fixtures of the top flight league scheduled for this weekend. Leopards last lifted the FKF-PL title in 1998. On the other hand, Shabana are chasing a maiden league title.
Today, 21-time record champions Gor Mahia will be aiming to open a nine-point gap at the top of the standings when they face 2008 winners Mathare United at the same venue.
AFC Leopards players celebrate after the beat Tusker FC 4-0 in an FKF Premier League match at Nyayo National Stadium on January 11, 2026.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
After playing 21 matches, Gor lead the standings with 46 points while 12-time champions Leopards are second on 40 points from the same number of matches. Shabana are also on 40 points but with an inferior goal difference from 22 matches, leaving them third on the log.
On Friday, Leopards suffered a major setback in their pursuit to bring to an end to their 28-year wait for a league title when they lost 1-0 to KCB at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani in Nairobi . KCB’s attacker, David Sakwa, scored the winner in the 65th minute of the match. That loss denied “Ingwe” a chance to cut Gor’s lead at the top to three points.
Leopards coach, Fred Ambani, said he is seeking to bounce back to winning ways against Shabana.
“If you look at KCB, they lost to Gor (3-0 last Sunday) but won today (Thursday against Leopards). We can also do that, we might have lost to them, but we can bounce back in our next match,” said Ambani. The match promises to be an explosive affair as Shabana have vowed to avenge their 2-1 defeat in the first leg held at Gusii Stadium in Kisii on October 29 last year.
Shabana coach Peter Okidi has stated that while “Ingwe” is a good team, his side is better. “AFC Leopards is a good team but we are the best,” said Okidi after their 1-0 win over Mathare at Nyayo on Wednesday. “We are going to work for those maximum points. They (Leopards) came to Gusii and took our three points; now they have to give us back our three points. It will be a game where the team that will have that hunger for success will carry the day. We believe we have the hunger and the energy to get maximum points on Sunday,” he added.
The match’s winner will move to second on the log. It will be the seventh meeting between Shabana and Leopards since the Kisii-based side were promoted to the FKF-PL in June 2023.
Previously, Leopards have triumphed in two meetings, similar to Shabana, while the other two encounters between them have ended in draws. Against Shabana, Ambani will be hoping to see his side create more scoring opportunities for his striker, Ugandan Samuel Ssenyonjo, having blamed it for their loss against KCB
Beyond seeking to cement their lead in the standings, Gor will be out to extend their winning streak to seven matches when they face Mathare.
Gor won the first leg 2-0. On the other hand, Mathare will be out to bounce back to winning ways after faltering in their last two matches.
Placed 11th with 26 points from 22 matches, Mathare’s last triumph over Gor was in March 2023 when they won 2-1 in the league.
In the race for the Golden Boot, on-form Murang’a Seal striker Joseph Waithira will be out to increase his tally and help his side bounce back to winning ways. The striker leads the scorer’s chart with 15 goals, six goals more than his closest challenger, Paul Okoth of Ulinzi Stars.
Tusker FC coach Julien Mette follows proceedings from the touchline during his side's match against Shabana FC in the Kenyan Premier League at Gusii Stadium on February 21, 2026.
Photo credit: WYCLIFFE NYABERI
Muranga, who rank sixth with 33 points, will tomorrow (Sunday) welcome struggling Posta Rangers at SportPesa Arena. Rangers are 13th with 24 points. Tusker’s new coach, Frenchman Julien Mette will be eyeing to record his second win in the Kenyan football having guided the team to a 1-0 win over relegation-threatened Kariobangi Sharks on Wednesday.
Unveiled on Friday last week, Matte had a rude welcome to the job when Tusker lost 1-0 to Shabana. Tusker are ninth with 31 points while Sharks are 14th with 22 points.
