AFC Leopards’ resurgent charge toward the SportPesa League summit gained significant momentum following a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Kariobangi Sharks at Nyayo Stadium on Sunday, March 29.
The decisive moment came courtesy of attacking midfielder Tyson Otieno, whose moment of individual brilliance proved to be the difference against his former employers.
Reflecting on the match-winning strike that moved Ingwe to within four points of league leaders Gor Mahia, Otieno attributed the goal to quick thinking and awareness on the pitch.
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AFC Leopards’ Tyson Otieno reflects on solo winner against Kariobangi Sharks
Describing the technical execution of the shot from a challenging angle, the midfielder noted that the opportunity was birthed from pure intuition.
“Football is about instincts. I looked up and saw that the goalkeeper had stepped forward and then decided to chip it and we got a goal.”
The goal, which arrived in the 59th minute, saw Otieno capitalize on a momentary lapse in the opposition’s defensive positioning.
Beyond the quality of the strike, the victory carries significance for the club’s title aspirations as the season enters its home stretch. The win has injected a fresh sense of belief within the squad, solidifying their status as genuine title contenders.
“I’m so happy for the win against Kariobangi Sharks. It gives us morale because we are getting closer to position one and a motivation to continue fighting in the remaining matches.”
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Otieno remained humble regarding his own contributions and the team’s upward trajectory. He credited their current form to rigorous work ethic behind the scenes.
“God is always faithful and all these talents we give credit to him. So it’s just about working hard and the fruits will eventually show,” Otieno’s clinical form remains central to the club’s pursuit of silverware with Ingwe narrowing the gap with league leaders Gor Mahia to four points.
The match-winning display comes at a critical moment, as it follows a heated national debate regarding Otieno’s exclusion from the Harambee Stars squad for the March 2026 FIFA Series in Rwanda.
Despite being one of the most in-form creative players in the Sportpesa league, head coach Benni McCarthy opted for a squad that leaned heavily on foreign-based players and youth prospects like Zech Obiero and Manzur Suleiman.
The omission drew sharp criticism from AFC Leopards chairman Boniface Ambani, who argued that McCarthy’s lack of local presence led to overlooking deserving domestic talent.