AFC Leopards head coach Fred Ambani expressed his frustration following the 0-0 draw with arch-rivals Gor Mahia in the 96th edition of the Mashemeji Derby at Nyayo Stadium on Sunday afternoon.This result marked Ingwe’s fourth consecutive league draw, after stalemates against Shabana, Kenya Police and Sofapaka dealing a blow to their title ambitions.Their ultimate goal this season remains to end their FKF Premier League drought, which dates back to 1998—the last time they lifted the prestigious title, securing their 12th championship in history.##NAJAVA_MECA_8814229##Despite his disappointment, Ambani took solace in maintaining his unbeaten record against Gor Mahia, both as a player and a coach.“I am disappointed. This is a game we wanted to get three points from, but we managed only one, and that’s that. But still, my record stands—I have never lost to Gor Mahia,” Ambani said in his post-match interview.When asked what went wrong, the former Kenyan international pointed to a persistent issue that has haunted his team in recent weeks—lack of ruthlessness in front of goal.##NAJAVA_MECA_8814229##“We will continue to work on our finishing. It has become a major issue for us, and we must improve. We create chances, but we don’t convert them, and that’s our biggest problem. Boniface Munyendo had several chances in the first half, and Ronald Bebeto came close, too. If they had taken their chances, we could have won all three points,” Ambani lamented.Mashemeji Derby: AFC Leopards stutter Gor Mahia’s title charge after stalemateAmbani also defended his decision to bring on Victor Otieno at halftime in place of Ovella Ochieng, citing tactical reasons for the substitution.“We needed more width in our attack, and since Victor has played in that role before, he was the right option,” he explained.Following the draw, Leopards now sit in fifth place on the FKF Premier League table with 37 points, further distancing themselves from the league leaders.FKFPL: Shabana FC crush Murang’a Seal as Homeboyz hold KCBWith the season nearing its climax, Ingwe’s inability to secure wins in key fixtures is proving costly in their bid to reclaim the league title after a 26-year wait.With the result, their record against Gor Mahia in recent years remains unfavorable. The last time they secured a league victory over their rivals was in 2023, their only win in 17 matches.What an attendance today! No more sitting space #MashemejiDerby pic.twitter.com/LDHcdr15u8— Eric Njiru ⚽️ (@EricNjiiru) March 30, 2025 While the draw ensures their eight-game unbeaten league run remains intact, it does little to help them in their pursuit of silverware after exiting the Mozzart Bet Cup and now trail leaders Police by more than 10 points.
