AFC Leopards coach reveals secret behind huge Shabana win

AFC Leopards head coach Fred Ambani revealed how the Kenyan Premier League giants masterminded a 5-1 Premier League victory over Shabana in a fixture at Nyayo Stadium on Sunday.

Samuel Semo and Tyson Otieno found the net in the first half to put coach Fred Ambani’s side ahead. However, Shabana, who kept working hard, reduced the deficit courtesy of Wycliffe Awiko.

This is a whole level of happiness 😊 #𝐋𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬𝐕𝐬𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐚 | #𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞

𝐀𝐅𝐂 𝐋𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 5️⃣ 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐅𝐂 1️⃣

⚽️ Samuel Semo
⚽️ Tyson Otieno
⚽️⚽️ Samuel Ssenyonjo
⚽️ Kayci Odhiambo #𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐰𝐞𝐍𝐚𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐤𝐚 pic.twitter.com/BYSofHBIDq

— AFC Leopards SC (@AFCLeopards) March 1, 2026

But before Shabana could level the scores, AFC Leopards responded to make it 3-1. Samuel Ssenyonjo rounded off Shabana defenders to score the third, a goal which sparked a fight between Shabana and AFC Leopards fans.

The game was stopped for a few minutes as police lobbed tear gas canisters into the crowd. However, AFC Leopards chairman Boniface Ambani helped to calm the situation as he walked through the pitch to talk to the players.

When play resumed, Ingwe continued to dominate and they grabbed their fourth when Kayci Odhiambo scored from a long-range effort. He then wrapped up the win after scoring the fifth goal for AFC Leopards.

‘We knew we would punish them’

“I did not expect five goals, but I expected a win with a big margin owing to the preparations that we had put in place not just ahead of this game but in the recent past, and I am glad that the boys managed to make the fans happy,” said Ambani.

“The transition and counterattack are something that we had prepared for. We knew we would punish them with that due to the spaces that they leave behind when their full-backs overlap.”

Shabana could have come back into the game

Shabana FC coach Peter Okidi blamed AFC Leopards fans for the defeat. He said: “I am sorry to say this, but it is very shameful. It is very shameful, especially for AFC Leopards fans. AFC were leading the game, but we had a good momentum to come back, but their fans resorted to fighting Shabana players.

“I believe if the game hadn’t stopped, Shabana could have come back into the game. So, it is like even their fans were playing the game. Yes, they have managed to give their team three points, after managing to take down our momentum, but if this is what the league is all about, then we are bringing it down.”

Okidi added: “AFC Leopards played a very big part to bring down our momentum; they did a big part to disorganise us. So, congratulations to AFC players, but for AFC fans, they need to style up.”

The win saw AFC Leopards cut Gor Mahia lead at top of the FKF Premier League table to six points, while Shabana remained third on 40 points.