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AFC Leopards goalkeeper Humphrey Katasi goes for an aerial ball under pressure from Masava Glen of Kakamega Homeboyz during their FKF Premier League match at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on January 4, 2026.
Twelve-time Kenyan champions AFC Leopards ended the year nestled on top of the 18-team FKF Premier League table and with dreams of winning their first title in 28 years.
But the title-hungry Big Cats were jolted from their reverie to reality just four days into the new year by a 1-0 loss to Kakamega Homeboyz on Sunday.
It was not just a loss of three points for Ingwa but a forfeiture of the psychologically boosting tag of “table leaders” as the equally title-hungry Homeboyz climbed to the summit of the league table on goal difference.
Henry Omollo of Kakamega Homeboyz celebrate his goal against AFC Leopards in an FKF Premier League match at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on January 4, 2026.
AFC Leopards coach Fred Ambani could only term the goal they conceded as a “gift”.
“We gifted them that goal. In the second half, we made changes to our system. We improved but we were unable to salvage a result,” Ambani said during the post-match with Azam TV, the league’s official broadcaster.
“I have a stable team but our attack needs reinforcement. When the transfer window opens we will be in the market for a target man,” Ambani added.
His counterpart, Patrick Odhiambo, said: “We really needed that win since we had gone for long without one.”
AFC Leopards goalkeeper Humphrey Katasi goes for an aerial ball under pressure from Masava Glen of Kakamega Homeboyz during their FKF Premier League match at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on January 4, 2026.
“Still, we needed to improve. In the first half, we missed so many chances to kill the game and almost paid for it in the second half. The league is very tough right now. The top eight teams are so close to each other. As such, we need to be more focused to maintain a winning streak,” Odhiambo added.
At Gusii Stadium in Kisii, widely supported Shabana, who had a mathematical chance of climbing to the top of the table, were left in turmoil after Nairobi United inflicted a 3-1 loss on them, at their supposed fortress.
No wonder the home fans renewed calls for the sacking of Shabana coach Peter Okidi.
A Duncan Omala brace and a contentious Michael Karamor goal were all “Naibois” needed to silence Tore Bobe.
No sooner had Nairobi netted their third goal in the 67th minute than incensed Shabana fans started chanting, “Okidi must go! Okidi must go!”
Shabana scored their consolation goal in the 88th minute through Brian Michira’s penalty.
“I do not understand why we are not winning matches at Gusii because we usually play well in away fixtures. We will have to ask ourselves questions. We have made individual mistakes and they just punished us from nowhere,” Okidi lamented.
Shabana assistant coach Bernard Mwalala was conspicuously missing from the team’s technical bench.
Sources indicate that Mwalala is on his way to sign for Bandari as head coach.
Homeboyz now lead the table with 24 points, same as Leopards and Tusker, but with a better goal difference.
Shabana remain fifth on 23 points. It is tightly crowded at the top with just a point separating the first five teams.
