- AFC Leopards held to a goalless draw at home by Bandari FC.
- The match was played on Wednesday, October 14, at Police Sacco Stadium.
- Just like last season, Ingwe have kicked off their new campaign with a draw, despite extending their unbeaten run against the Dockeers.
Hapless AFC Leopards kicked off their 2026/27 SportPesa League campaign with a frustrating goalless draw against a rearguard Bandari FC on Wednesday afternoon at Police Sacco Stadium.
Ingwe finished as runners-up last season and were hoping to kick-start their new campaign on a high note, ideally with a win to reaffirm their credentials as title contenders.
However, just like last season, they went winless in their opening three matches, as history repeated itself.
Bandari, on the other hand, extended their winless run against Ingwe, with their last victory over the Leopards dating back to 2023. Three years down the line, the Dockers are still searching for a breakthrough, with their most recent four meetings ending in goalless stalemates.
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The Fred Ambani charges thought they had taken the lead in the 11th minute through James Kinyanjui, only for the goal to be chalked off.
After Samwel Semo’s build-up play down the left wing, the resulting cross was ruled to have gone out of play before he unleashed a volley that Kinyanjui tucked into the net.
Two minutes before the half-hour mark, Ingwe produced a shaky defensive moment that nearly proved costly.
Kevin Luke Otiala attempted a back pass to Kayci Odhiambo, but as the latter tried to clear the ball, he gifted possession to Lawrence Okoth, who unleashed a thunderous strike that Tom Ikara brilliantly parried behind for a corner.
The second half offered little excitement, with neither side managing to carve out clear-cut opportunities to break the deadlock or seize an early advantage.
In the closing stages, Ingwe tried to trouble a resolute Bandari backline, but their efforts came to naught. One of their attempts was cleared off the goal line by Lawrence Juma after a corner kick.
The Leopards fashioned a few promising openings from set pieces, particularly corners, but still failed to breach the Dockers’ defence, which held firm to secure a share of the spoils.
Meanwhile, in another fixture that wrapped up Round 1 of the SportPesa League, Mombasa United experienced top-flight football for the first time but marked their debut with a 1-0 home defeat to Kakamega Homeboyz at Mbaraki Stadium.
Homeboyz snatched the decisive goal in the second half through a deflected effort from a corner kick, securing all three points on the road and spoiling Mombasa United’s historic occasion.
AFC Leopards vs Bandari FC: 26/27 SportPesa League opener line-ups
- AFC Leopards: Tom Ikara, Brian Nyongesa, Samuel Semo, Kevin Luke Otiala, Kayci Odhiambo, Musa Oundo, James Kinyanjui, Taddeo Lwanga, Samuel Ssenyonjo, Tyson Otieno, Ronald Sichenje.
- Bandari FC: Joseph Ochuka, Joseph Onyang, Thomas Wainaina, Andrew Juma, Brian Odera, David Ambulu, Clifford Otieno, Darius Msagha, William Wadri, Abdallah Hassan, Lawrence Okoth.
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