AFC Leopards edge Sharks to finish 7th in 2022/23
By Collins Amanga, June 25, 2023
AFC Leopards ended their 2022/23 FKF Premier League campaign on a positive note, securing a 1-0 victory over Kariobangi Sharks in an intense league match held at Nyayo Stadium.
The win allowed Leopards to break their three-match winless streak since their triumph over Gor Mahia back in May.
AFC Leopards’ lone goal
The first half of the match remained goalless, with both teams unable to find the back of the net.
However, the deadlock was broken in the 56th minute when a Sharks player committed a foul worthy of a booking, resulting in his dismissal and awarding Leopards a penalty.
Victor Omune, a midfielder who has represented the Harambee Stars, stepped up and confidently converted the penalty, propelling Leopards to a 1-0 lead.
Despite their best efforts, neither team managed to alter the scoreline for the remainder of the match, securing all three points for AFC Leopards.
14 wins for Leopards
With this win, AFC Leopards concluded their season in seventh position with 51 points, having secured 14 victories throughout the campaign. However, they finished 19 points behind the league champions, Gor Mahia.
On the other hand, Kariobangi Sharks ended their season in the eleventh position with 41 points, trailing AFC Leopards by ten points.
Meanwhile, Police FC made history in their second season by achieving their highest-ever finish. The law enforcement team secured a third-place position on the league table with 64 points after an entertaining 2-2 draw against KCB.
Duke Abuya gave Police FC an early lead in the 20th minute, which was later cancelled out by Kennedy Onnyago in the 59th minute.
Leading goal score Elvis Rupia then restored the lead for Police FC to scoop the golden boot, but they conceded a goal in the 75th minute
KCB also accumulated 64 points during the season, but due to an inferior goal difference, they settled for fifth place. Nzoia Sugar, on the other hand, finished in fourth place after a goalless draw against Sofapaka.
Bandari FC claimed the sixth spot on the table with 60 points following their 2-1 victory over Posta Rangers.
Kakamega Homeboyz secured eighth place with a 1-1 draw against Bidco United in Kakamega, while Ulinzi Stars defeated Talanta FC with a convincing 2-0 scoreline.
The final matchday results were as follows:
- Kakamega Homeboyz 1-1 Bidco United
- Kariobangi Sharks 0-1 AFC Leopards
- KCB 2-2 Kenya Police FC
- Nairobi City Stars 1-4 Gor Mahia
- Posta Rangers 1-2 Bandari FC
- Sofapaka 0-0 Nzoia Sugar
- Ulinzi Stars 2-0 Talanta FC
- Vihiga Bullets FC 0-4 Tusker FC
- Wazito FC 0-1 Mathare United