AFC Leopards will be aiming to stretch their impressive home run in the 25/26 SportPesa League when they host Ulinzi Stars at the Ulinzi Sports Complex on Thursday afternoon at 4PM.
Both sides come into the fixture on the back of mixed results, but the balance of form and confidence appears to tilt in favour of Ingwe who are cha sing a first league title since 1998.
Leopards played out a goalless draw against Kenya Police in their last outing, a match in which they showed defensive solidity but lacked the cutting edge in the final third.
Ulinzi Stars, on the other hand, suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat to KCB, a result that once again exposed their struggles to manage games, especially against well-organized opposition.
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AFC Leopards out to pile more misery on Ulinzi Stars
Currently sitting eighth on the league table, AFC Leopards have quietly built a strong reputation at home. They are unbeaten in their last nine league matches on home soil, a run that underlines their comfort and confidence when playing in front of their fans.
However, their overall recent league form has been somewhat inconsistent, with just one win in their last five matches. That solitary victory was nonetheless significant as it was a 1-0 triumph over arch-rivals Gor Mahia in the 98th Mashemeji Derby, a result that injected belief and momentum into the squad.
Alongside that win, Leopards have recorded three draws and one defeat in the same period.
Ulinzi Stars situation is more concerning. The soldiers have managed only three wins in their last 18 league matches stretching back to last season, a statistic that highlights their prolonged struggle for consistency.
In their last five league outings, they have picked up two wins, one draw and two losses, leaving them 14th on the table.
With 11 goals scored and 14 conceded so far, head coach Stephen Ochola will be particularly worried about his side’s defensive frailties as they come up against one of the league’s more dangerous attacking units.
AFC Leopards have found the net 11 times this season while conceding just eight goals, a balance that reflects their growing tactical discipline.
Much of their attacking threat is expected to come from the creativity of Tyson Otieno and the pace and movement of James Kinyanjui, players capable of unlocking defences and punishing any lapse in concentration.
History also favours Leopards heading into this clash. In the last five meetings between the two sides, there has been only one draw, with AFC Leopards claiming three victories and Ulinzi Stars winning once. That recent head-to-head record further strengthens Ingwe’s belief that they can collect maximum points.
With league positions, form and pride all at stake, the stage is set for a compelling contest. AFC Leopards will be keen to capitalize on their home advantage and push further up the table, while Ulinzi Stars will be desperate to arrest their slide and prove their resilience.
Tickets for the match are priced at KES 300 for regular entry and KES 500 for VIP, available exclusively online at https://leopards.api.co.ke
