Kennedy Owino was the hero for AFC Leopards as they returned to winning ways with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Kenya Police FC in an FKF Premier League match on Sunday at Dandora Stadium. The win was crucial for Leopards, who had been struggling to find form, and Owino’s second-half goal proved to be the difference.
The match began with both teams eager to assert their dominance. AFC Leopards, who had been under pressure following a series of disappointing results, came out of the blocks quickly. Boniface Munyendo had an early opportunity to put them ahead in the third minute, but his shot was well saved by Kenya Police goalkeeper Job Ochieng. However, the game was briefly halted in the 11th minute when crowd trouble forced law enforcement to intervene. Tear gas was deployed to disperse fans attempting to gain unauthorized entry into the stadium, causing a disruption that paused the game for several minutes.
Once play resumed, the first half continued to be a battle of missed opportunities. Both teams had chances, but they failed to capitalize on them. Mousa Oundo of Kenya Police had a long-range effort in the 33rd minute that went just wide of the target. On the other side, Leopards’ Ovella Ochieng had a free-kick that failed to trouble Ochieng in goal, and Victor Omune’s header lacked the necessary accuracy to test the goalkeeper.
The second half saw both teams make tactical adjustments in an attempt to break the deadlock. AFC Leopards’ coach Fred Ambani introduced Kelly Madada and Cliff Miheso in the 65th minute, and the changes almost paid immediate dividends. Madada’s clever through pass created a chance for Leopards, but it was slightly overhit and could not be converted.
Despite the missed opportunities, Leopards’ persistence paid off in the 76th minute. Madada was fouled just outside the box, and a free-kick was awarded to the home side. Ovella Ochieng stepped up to take the set-piece, and his shot towards goal was met with a spectacular acrobatic save from Ochieng in the Kenya Police goal. However, the rebound fell kindly to Kennedy Owino, who was perfectly positioned to pounce on the loose ball. Without hesitation, Owino calmly slotted the ball into the net to give AFC Leopards the lead.
The goal sent the home crowd into rapturous celebrations, as the Leopards knew the importance of this moment. With the slender lead in hand, they focused on holding off any counterattacks from Kenya Police. In the 85th minute, Leopards had a chance to double their advantage. Sydney Lokale broke free after a precise through ball and found himself one-on-one with only defender David ‘Cheche’ Ochieng to beat. However, Lokale’s shot went wide of the post, missing a golden opportunity to seal the win.
Despite the near-miss, AFC Leopards remained composed and defended resolutely in the closing stages. Kenya Police struggled to break down the solid defense of Leopards, and the home side held firm to secure all three points. The victory was a vital morale boost for the team, who had been struggling to climb the league standings.
The win ended a challenging run for AFC Leopards, who had gone several matches without a victory. The resilience and tactical discipline displayed in the match demonstrated the character of the team and their determination to improve. With the three points in the bag, they will now look to build on this performance and continue their push up the FKF Premier League table.
Final Score: AFC Leopards 1–0 Kenya Police FC
Scorer: Kennedy Owino (76′)
