The roar returned to Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday, not just in celebration of a derby win, but in the reawakening of a sleeping giant. For the first time in seasons, the blue half of Nairobi believes the glory days are back.

For the Ingwe faithful, Sunday’s 1-0 victory over eternal rivals Gor Mahia was more than just bragging rights; it was a declaration of war on a title drought that has plagued the club since 1998. Head coach Fred Ambani, emboldened by the tactical masterclass, has explicitly set his sights on the 2025/26 Kenya Premier League trophy.

A Statement of Intent

The victory was gritty, tense, and ultimately decisive. Ambani, who has watched his side oscillate between mediocrity and false dawns in recent years, termed the win an "emphatic statement of intent." The tactician insists that beating the defending champions is the blueprint for the remainder of the campaign.

“Our focus is on winning the league,” Ambani asserted in the post-match presser. “If you look at the way we played today, we played like a team that wants to win the league. We have beaten a team that was above us on the log and that is what we want to do—to beat every other side that is above us.”

The decisive moment arrived courtesy of Julius Masaba. The former Kariobangi Sharks winger provided the lethal instinct the Leopards have sorely lacked, pouncing on a spilled shot by Gor Mahia custodian Byrne Omondi to tap into an empty net. It was a moment of opportunism that separated the sides, despite late pressure from Charles Akonnor’s men.

Echoes of 1998

The historical symmetry of this title charge is not lost on the fans. The last time AFC Leopards lifted the Premier League crown was 27 years ago. An integral part of that 1998 squad was none other than Fred Ambani himself, who, alongside his brother Boniface, terrorized defenses across the region.

Now in the dugout, Ambani is desperate to replicate that success as a manager. Since the turn of the millennium, the club has often flattered to deceive, with promising starts frequently collapsing into mid-table obscurity. This victory, however, feels different—it broke a dominance by K’Ogalo that had stood since June 2023.

• The Hero: Julius Masaba, whose predatory finish secured the points.
• The Drought: Leopards have not won the league since 1998.
• The Rivalry: This win ends a winless streak against Gor Mahia dating back to mid-2023.

As the team departed Nyayo Stadium, the chants from the terraces suggested the fans have bought into Ambani's vision. The road to the title is long, but for the first time in decades, AFC Leopards are not just participants; they are contenders.