Confident Ambani explains why AFC Leopards lost to Gor Mahia in Mashemeji Derby
By Luke Oluoch, April 27, 2026AFC Leopards coach Fred Ambani has described their defeat to Gor Mahia as a bad day in office but insists the team’s push for the league title still continues.
Speaking after the Sunday, April 26, 2026, Mashemeji Derby, the former international effectively saw his and his team’s push for an elusive title end after Alpha Onyango’s late strike decided the hotly contested 99th derby meeting between the two sides.
‘It pains me to lose’
“It was a bad day for us in the office: things didn’t work out, and it is painful to lose,” he stated.
Despite the setback, the gaffer has not let go of their title prospects, despite admitting that their fate is now not in their own hands.
According to Ambani, Ingwe still has the five games left to try and return to winning ways and hopes Gor, who now leads proceedings on a massive six-point cushion, drops crucial points along the way.
“We still have games to play, and if Gor can lose and we win our games, we stand a chance,” he explained.
The defeat dealt a major title blow to the challengers, who had seen a spell of winning outcomes cut into Gor’s lead, once a ten-point cushion, to only three ahead of the crucial derby.
League’s title race
However, the loss has since altered the complexion of the title race, as Gor claimed the derby’s bragging rights while, more importantly, edging closer to a record 22nd league title.
Ingwe survived through the better part of the first half with custodian Humprey Katasi’s top-drawer saves and perfectly timed decisions, seeing the team head into the break on level terms.
Their resolve was, however, punctured late after Alpha Onyango delivered a late sucker punch.
Onyango received a Bryson Onyona cross following a corner. The attacker coolly controlled the ball before unleashing a low suckerpunch that left a section of Ingwe players on the ground, perhaps sensing the magnitude of how the late goal bore on the title race.
The defeat leaves Ambani’s team on 55 points as Gor leap to 61.