Africa-Press – Kenya. AFC Leopards head coach Fred Ambani is keen to keep his side’s upward trajectory intact as Ingwe lock horns with Ulinzi Stars today at the Ulinzi complex, with the tactician eyeing another positive result to fuel their growing push for the league title.
Leopards have quietly built a solid platform in the 2025/26 campaign, collecting 18 points from their opening 11 league outings and steadily finding rhythm as the season gathers pace.
Crucially, Ingwe are unbeaten in their last four league matches, a sequence that has included a goalless draw against Murang’a Seal, a hard-fought 1-1 stalemate with Kariobangi Sharks and most notably, a statement 1-0 triumph over arch-rivals Gor Mahia in the Mashemeji Derby.
In their most recent league assignment, Leopards went toe-to-toe with defending champions Kenya Police and emerged with a barren draw, a result that further reinforced their defensive steel.
With momentum firmly on their side, Ambani believes his charges are beginning to show the consistency required to mount a serious title challenge. “I am seeing great improvement in the team.
Since the Gor game, the team has been playing well,” said Ambani. “If we continue building on that, I think we have a good team to challenge for the title.
”Standing in their way today is a Ulinzi Stars side that has endured a difficult run, managing 13 points from 13 league outings and now desperate to rediscover their winning touch.
Ulinzi’s last three league appearances have produced mixed fortunes, beginning with a 1-1 draw against Bandari before suffering back-to-back defeats to Tusker (1-0) and KCB (2-1).
Their last taste of victory came on November 24, when they brushed aside Sofapaka 3-1 courtesy of goals from Masuta Masita, Paul Odhiambo and Paul Okoth. However, the soldiers will take confidence from recent history, having gone unbeaten against Leopards over the two legs last season.
In the first meeting, Yakeen Mutheli and Boniface Muchiri struck to secure all three points for Ulinzi, before the reverse fixture ended in a goalless stalemate.
Despite last season’s record, Ulinzi face a stern test against an Ingwe side that has tasted defeat just once this season (a 2-0 loss to Mara Sugar). In contrast, Ulinzi have already suffered six league defeats in the current campaign.
Reflecting on the draw against Kenya Police, Ambani maintained that his side was the better outfit on the day. “Police were lucky to come out with a point,” he said.
“We had the opportunity to put the game to rest in the first half, but we did not bury the chances created.
”Despite the stalemate, the tactician was encouraged by the character and intensity shown by his players, praising their refusal to drop their standards until the final whistle.
“The boys played well; they pushed themselves until the very last minute,” he noted.
Ambani also singled out goalkeeper Humphrey Katasi for special praise, hailing the shot-stopper as a crucial cog in the Ingwe machine. “Katasi is improving game by game, and he is really helping us a lot. He is a crucial part of the team at the moment,” he added.
