- AFC Leopards face red-hot APS Bomet in a must-win clash to keep their SportPesa League title dreams alive.
- The league’s penultimate fixture will be played on Sunday, May 24, at Kericho Green Stadium.
- Kick-off is set for 2pm EAT.
The SportPesa League 25/26 title race is still alive, and AFC Leopards, clinging to a faint glimmer of hope, will aim to close the gap on Sunday when they face the in-form APS Bomet at Kericho Green Stadium from 2pm.
Ingwe have a shot at making it a one-point title race on Sunday by grabbing all three points in this penultimate fixture, especially after Gor Mahia’s clash against Mara Sugar got halted by the Sports Dispute Tribunal following a back-and-forth over the venue for both sides.
Gor, who are now just one match away from clinching their 22nd crown, will have to wait until the case is mentioned next week to face the Sugar Millers.
But before then, the pressure could be intense if their perennial rivals manage to turn this into a one-point affair heading into the final day.
READ ALSO: AFC Leopards edge Kakamega Homeboyz to move within one point of leaders Gor Mahia
AFC Leopards face red-hot APS Bomet in must-win clash
Sitting second on 64 points, Ingwe will walk into this encounter buoyed by the fact that they have won three straight matches after dropping crucial points in back-to-back defeats back in April.
They have since beaten Mara Sugar, Ukinzi Stars, and most recently snatched a 2-1 away victory against Kakamega Homeboyz.
Ambani men have been the finest side on the road this season, collecting more points than anyone else – 33 from a possible 48.
They have won ten, drawn three, and lost three in that stretch, so their away form could really favor Fred Ambani’s men as they chase their first silverware in over two decades.
“This is one of those matches where mentality is as important as tactics,” Ambani told the Star ahead of the showdown. “APS Bomet don’t give you space, they don’t give you rhythm, and they punish mistakes.”
He pointed to the need for patience without losing attacking bite. “We must be smart in how we build our attacks,” he explained. “It won’t be about rushing. It’ll be about timing, movement, and precision in the final third.”
But they will have to do all this by facing the Law Enforcers, who have been riding high on a nine-match unbeaten run in the SportPesa League.
During that stretch, Sammy ‘Pamzo’ Omollo’s charges have picked up at least six wins – a strong run that has seen the league debutants keep their survival hopes very much intact on their side.
They come into this match sitting 12th on the log with 40 points, six clear of the relegation zone occupied by Kariobangi Sharks, who only have one game left to play.
That means Bomet have already secured their spot for next season’s campaign.
Even so, the hosts will still be eager to upset the title hopefuls, especially with the lucrative bonuses that have inspired their performances in recent weeks.
Players and members of the technical bench have been receiving KSh50,000 each from patron Kipchumba Murkomen.
Meanwhile, Pamzo believes their identity won’t change even under pressure from a title-chasing opponent.
“We’ve built something strong here through discipline and understanding,” Omollo said. “We won’t abandon our principles because of the opponent.”
Omollo also acknowledged the challenge of containing AFC Leopards’ attacking momentum.
“They’re coming here with confidence and goals in their legs,” he said. “We must be tactically perfect because they punish even the smallest lapses.”
The last time these two sides met- for the first time ever, it was AFC Leopards who asserted their dominance at home, winning 2–1 with a sensational late comeback at Nyayo National Stadium