Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Daily Nation
Published on 2024-02-05 13:00:03
Kenya’s Football Kenya Federation Premier League saw defending champions Gor Mahia suffer their first defeat of the season, while their rivals AFC Leopards continued their resurgence. Gor Mahia lost 3-1 to Kenya Police at Police Sacco Stadium in South C, while AFC Leopards secured a 2-0 victory over Kariobangi Sharks at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi. These results have had a significant impact on the league standings and the form of the teams involved.
Despite the defeat, Gor Mahia still sits at the top of the league with 43 points, eight points ahead of Posta Rangers with 14 matches remaining in the season. The loss to Kenya Police highlighted the struggles that Gor Mahia has been facing in recent matches, where they have often won games unconvincingly. This result has brought to light some of the weaknesses in the team that need to be addressed if they are to maintain their position at the top of the table.
A key factor in Gor Mahia’s defeat was their inability to maintain control of the midfield, allowing Kenya Police to dominate possession and prevent key players like Musa Masika and Benson Omala from receiving the ball effectively. Prior to this defeat, Gor Mahia had won their last four matches by a slim 1-0 margin, highlighting their struggles to score goals and effectively dominate games.
The dip in form of their key striker Benson Omala has also been a cause for concern, with the 22-year-old striker struggling to find the back of the net in recent matches. This has led to questions about his ability to maintain his position as the top scorer in the league, with Kenya Police striker Tito Okello hot on his heels with eight goals to his name.
Meanwhile, AFC Leopards’ resurgence under coach Tomas Trucha has been evident in their recent performances, as they have gone unbeaten in their last six matches, accumulating 16 points out of a possible 18. This turnaround in form has seen the team climb to 10th place in the league standings, a significant improvement from their previous position.
In addition to the performances of Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards, other teams in the league have also shown signs of improvement. 2009 champions Sofapaka, under the guidance of coach Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno, have also seen positive results, with three wins out of four matches since his appointment. This has seen them move four points clear of the relegation zone, indicating a potential turnaround in their season.
Overall, the recent matches in the Football Kenya Federation Premier League have provided insight into the shifting dynamics and form of the teams involved. With the league approaching its latter stages, it will be interesting to see how these teams perform in the remaining matches and if they can maintain their positions in the standings.
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