AFC Leopards head coach Fred Ambani has declared his side officially back in the hunt for the Sportpesa League title following a 2-1 victory over Mara Sugar at the Nyayo National Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The win was a significant turning point for Ingwe, marking the first time this season the club has secured three points immediately following a league hiatus after losses to Kenya Police, Mathare United and Kakamega Homeboyz.
Speaking after the match, Ambani expressed confidence that the victory signals a shift in momentum for the final stretch of the campaign.
When asked if the result puts his squad back in contention, Ambani was emphatic about his players’ hunger to compete until the final whistle of the season.
“Definitely, We see how the players played today; at least they want to stretch it to the line. It’s a healthy thing for the Premier League.”
READ MORE: AFC Leopards revive title hopes with hard-fought win over Mara Sugar
The three points moved Leopards to 58 points, keeping them within striking distance of the summit and adding much-needed pressure to the league leaders.
One of the most persistent issues for Leopards this term has been a dip in form following two-week breaks a trend that saw them drop points against Kenya Police, Kakamega Homeboyz and Mathare United. Ambani revealed that addressing this habit was a primary focus during training.
“I talked to the players. I made them understand that it’s been something that we’ve been doing again and again,” Ambani explained.
“This time around we should at least change things around because it was a very bad habit. Every time we go for a break, we come back, we lose.”
After failing to find the net in their previous two outings, the Leopards’ attack looked revitalized, netting twice in either half through Hassan Beja and Victor Omune. Ambani attributed the improvement to targeted drills in the final third.
“I believe we’ve been working on scoring. We’ve been working on the attacking third and that’s what we say,we thank God at least it has paved fruit and we will keep on working,” he noted.
However, the match also broke a recent trend where Leopards’ goals typically occurred in the second half. While pleased with the early output, the coach warned against the lapse in concentration that allowed Mara Sugar to equalize from the penalty spot.
“What we did wrong was we scored then we got excited, then we forgot that we have to defend as well. So that’s how we were hit back, and I believe we will work on that at least to change the motive,” Ambani concluded.
With the win, AFC Leopards now look ahead to their remaining four fixtures, aiming to maintain the momentum in the race for silverware.