"Felt like a loss": Ambani frustrated after Ingwe drop points yet again

AFC Leopards interim head coach Fred Ambani was left frustrated after his side conceded a late goal to draw with Sofapaka, saying the result felt more like a loss.

Having taken an early lead through young sensation Kelly Madada, Ingwe failed to add to their advantage despite creating multiple goal-scoring opportunities in a largely dominant first half.

Valiant Sofapaka hold Ingwe as Mathare fight back against Bandari

It was Sofapaka however, who got the last laugh, as Edward Omondi came up with a scuffed shot that looped over a couple of Leopards defenders before dipping under Humphrey Katasi’s goal and into the net.

Winger Luke Namanda with a chance to grab a winner was denied by Brandon Obiero, meaning that Leopards had for the second time in three matches, dropped points from a commanding position.

“Feels like we lost,” Ambani said after the match. “At AFC we still have the ambition to win the league and so when we drop points like we did today, it doesn’t help,” he said.

On a weekend where defending champions Gor Mahia and league leaders KCB lost, Ambani felt his side needed to find a way to separate themselves and also keep up with the leaders, but a point to remain in sixth prompted him to say: “It's not good pressure on us.”

On what was the turning point in a contrasting second half, Ambani added: “We were doing so well until Madada got injured and we had to sub him out. The creativity from then was gone, and it took sometime before Clifton Miheso (his replacement) got into the groove.”

Sofapaka’s Robert Matano however felt like AFC players had run their course saying: “I could see that they were tired and so I brought on some pace from the bench to help us get something.”

One of his early changes was bringing on Omondi, who ended up as his saviour.