AFC Leopards and Shabana FC drew 1-1 in a tense Kenyatta Stadium clash, marked by drama, controversies, and rising tensions.
On Sunday afternoon, AFC Leopards and Shabana FC played out a dramatic 1-1 draw at Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos. Shabana took an early lead in the 19th minute through Kevin Omundi, capitalising on a deflected free-kick.
However, AFC Leopards equalised just before halftime, with Ovella Ochieng converting a well-crafted assist from Clifton Miheso. The second half saw both teams create chances, but neither could find the decisive goal.
Here are five things we learned from the clash:
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Fans flock Kenyatta Stadium
Machakos Stadium was filled to the brim for what was the fourth-ever league clash between AFC Leopards and Shabana.
By 3:30 PM, all the terraces had been occupied, and there were still a number of fans battling to gain access, even forcing their way in at some points, overpowering stewards in the process. The atmosphere was lively and electric, with both sets of fans taking turns to back their team.
In the first half, Shabana dominated AFC Leopards and even scored a goal through Kevin Omundi in the 18th minute. AFC Leopards’ fans looked subdued and quiet throughout, but a goal totally against the run of play by Ovella Ochieng turned the tide.
In the second half, Leopards gained more territory and created numerous chances, especially from set-piece situations, but could not make them count, leaving their fans disgruntled.
It took the infectious Kennedy Owino to get the crowd going after momentarily getting off the bench to signal to the fans, but generally, the turnout was incredible.
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Evenly balanced game
While Shabana dominated most of the first half, the second half saw AFC Leopards impose themselves more. In the first half, Leopards struggled to handle Shabana’s wing play. Darius Msagha and Brian Michira ran riot down the flanks for Ingwe.
Keith Imbali controlled the tempo with his high-volume passes, while Kevin Omundi delivered defence-splitting balls.
The combination play on the flanks caused Leopards all sorts of problems, but Shabana failed to capitalise on their chances, allowing Ingwe back into the game after Ochieng’s equaliser.
From then on, Shabana sat back and tried to create opportunities from counter-attacks, but they were few and far between. In the end, a draw seemed the fairest outcome.
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Tensions galore
In high-stakes games like this, tensions are inevitable, and this clash was no exception. The game had to be halted in the 10th minute after a section of AFC Leopards fans in the East Stand had enough of Shabana supporters rattling them with singing and dancing.
The disgruntled fans decided to take action, forcing security officers to launch a tear gas canister to disperse them. As a result, two stands on that end of the stadium were evacuated for the remainder of the game.
Another incident occurred midway through the second half, this time in the VIP section, where a minor tussle broke out between fans from both sides. However, this was controlled more effectively.
Should Lewis Bandi have been sent off?
During the clash, centre referee Josephine Wanjiku made some decisions that left both sets of fans aghast. One such decision occurred in the 77th minute, involving Lewis Bandi and Dennis Oketch.
Shabana fans were adamant that Bandi should have been sent off for pulling down Oketch when he was through on goal, considering it a professional last-man foul.
However, TV replays showed that Bandi was not the last man, making the referee’s decision justifiable.
Clash has potential to get bigger
The fourth league clash between AFC Leopards and Shabana since the latter’s promotion back to the top flight of Kenyan football proves that future meetings have the potential to grow in significance.
Perhaps, they could even surpass the Mashemeji Derby, where Gor Mahia have long been Ingwe’s sworn rivals.
Their first notable clash occurred on 1st October 2023, in a Kenya Premier League match, ending in a 1-1 draw, with both teams showcasing resilience and tactical prowess.
In their subsequent meeting on 31st March 2024, AFC Leopards secured a narrow 1-0 victory. However, Shabana turned the tide later that year, winning 4-3 on 15th June 2024, and 2-1 on 27th November 2024.
Shabana fans have already started claiming that AFC Leopards are their “wives” given their superior head-to-head record in that period, setting the stage for an even fiercer rivalry in the future.
