- AFC Leopards kick off their new SportPesa League campaign at home against Bandari FC.
- The match will be played on Wednesday, October 14, at Police Sacco Stadium.
- Kick-off is set for 3pm, the same time Mombasa United host Kakamega Homeboyz at Mbaraki Sports Club.
Title-hungry AFC Leopards kick off their quest for a first title in over two decades when they face Bandari FC in their 2026/27 SportPesa League opener on Wednesday afternoon at Police Sacco Stadium, from 3pm.
Ingwe will be looking to go one better than last season after narrowly missing out on the title to their arch-rivals Gor Mahia by just five points, with late slip-ups costing them silverware for the first time in 28 years.
AFC Leopards last won the top-flight title in 1998, and nearly three decades later, they are still chasing their 13th crown, with the 12th coming when their current coach, Fred Ambani, was still a player.
ALSO READ: Gor Mahia win 22nd SportPesa League title after AFC Leopards lose
With a new season on their hands, Ingwe know they must raise their game and address the areas where they fell short last campaign.
Their tally of 65 points was a commendable return, but they will be eager to turn that progress into tangible success.
One area they must improve is their opening-day form, ensuring they start with a victory and keep pace with defending challengers Gor Mahia, who beat Murang’a SEAL 4-2 on Tuesday to take early control of the standings.
Last season, Ingwe endured a sluggish start, drawing all their opening three matches.
Their mission this time is to put that disappointing run behind them and get their campaign off to a flying start with a home victory on Wednesday.
ALSO READ: Gor Mahia begin SportPesa League title defence with convincing win over Murang’a SEAL
Coach Ambani, who is preparing to lead the squad through a full season for the second consecutive time, insists his players must approach the new campaign with the right mentality and make an early statement.
“We have to start the season with the right mentality. The delay affected everyone, but we cannot keep looking back at what has happened. We have to concentrate on the work ahead of us and make sure we are ready to compete from the first whistle,” Ambani said ahead of the clash.
Last season, Ingwe scored 44 goals and conceded 28, and Ambani believes the team has put in enough work to sharpen its finishing and ensure the chances they create translate into goals.
“We know that creating chances is important, but taking them is what wins matches. We have been working on our decision-making in the final third, and the players must show patience rather than rush things when the opportunity comes,” he added.
For the Dockers, the new campaign brings a fresh face to the technical bench, with former Tusker FC coach Charles Okere at the helm as they look to surpass last season’s performance.
Bandari endured a difficult campaign last season under Bernard Mwalala, who took charge midway through the season, with the team eventually finishing 12th.
Now under Okere, the Dockers will be eager to improve on that position and establish themselves as genuine contenders.
“We are not going there to admire AFC Leopards. We want to play our football, compete for every ball and take our chances when they come. If we remain organised and believe in ourselves, we can get a positive result,” he said.
Since beating Ingwe 1-0 in 2023, Bandari have failed to register another victory against the Leopards, who have won two of the last five meetings, while the most recent three encounters have ended in goalless draws.
Meanwhile, Wednesday’s SportPesa League fixtures will also see league debutants Mombasa United experience top-flight football for the first time when they host Kakamega Homeboyz at Mbaraki Sports Club from 3pm.
Both sides will be eager to launch their campaigns on a high note, with the coastal outfit keen to announce their arrival in the top flight, while the Western-based side targets an improvement on last season’s sixth-place finish.
