A.F.C. Leopards
Association football club in Kenya

Football club
AFC Leopards
Full nameAbaluhya Football Club Leopards Sports Club
NicknameIngwe (The Leopards)
Short nameAFC
Founded12 March 1964; 61 years ago (1964-03-12)
GroundNyayo National Stadium
Nairobi
Capacity18,000[1]
ChairmanFred Ambani
Head coachFred Ambani
LeagueKenyan Premier League
2024–25KPL, 6th of 18
Websitewww.afcleopards.co.ke

Abaluhya Football Club Leopards Sports Club, officially abbreviated as AFC Leopards, is a Kenyan professional football club based in Nairobi. It currently competes in the Kenyan Premier League, the top tier of the Kenyan football league system, and was founded in 1964 by football lovers from the Luhya community. With 12 top-flight league titles to their name, AFC Leopards is Kenya's third most successful club behind Tusker FC (13 titles) and Gor Mahia (18 titles), the latter with whom they regularly contest the Mashemeji Derby.[2] The team currently plays most of its home games at the Nyayo National Stadium

AFC Leopards' standing as one of the most successful clubs in the region is underlined by the fact that it has won the Kenyan Premier League 12 times. AFC Leopards has also won the Kenya Cup 10 times, and the CECAFA Club Championship 5 times.[3]

The club was formed in 1964 as Abaluhya United Football Club. In 1973 the club changed its name to Abaluhya Football Club when a number of small clubs amalgamated.[4] In 1980 the club was renamed AFC Leopards, the name it holds until present.

In 2008 they played in the Nationwide League and won the title in their zone. They returned to the Kenyan Premier League for the 2009 season in which it also won the KFF Cup.[5]

Several teams in the Kenyan football league system are intimately linked to ethnic groups in Kenya; AFC Leopards are considered to represent the Luhya people of Western Kenya.

History

The 1960s

From the 1960s or even earlier; the notion and formation of various Abaluhya teams for invitational matches became the forerunner of what eventually would become Abaluhya United. On 12 March 1964, the East African Standard newspaper published a report on the birth of a new club known as Abaluhya Football Club, which resulted from the amalgamation of Marama, Samia United and Bunyore; all Nairobi based clubs that were in Division 1 of the Kenya National Football League. The amalgamation process also included lower division clubs such as Kisa, Tiriki, Bukusu Brotherhood, Busamia, Lurambi, Butsotso, Bushibungo and Eshirotsa thus building its base and establishments that would make it a success in the future. [6]

The 1970s and 80s: Legacy building and golden era

This was a period of sustained performance from the club, which brought it more fame. This included winning the Kenya National Football League in an unbeaten fashion, in the process becoming the first Kenyan club to do so.[7]

AFC Leopards marked the 80s by marking a period of dominance majorly in the domestic and regional scene.[8]

The 1990s and 2000s

In the 90s, achievements became less frequent, although in general, the team continued to win some championships thus never suffering a considerable title drought.[9]

The beginning of dismal campaigns for the following 10 years, including relegation from the top tier.[9]

Club Identity

Musalia Mudavadi is amongst the many Luhya politicians to patronise A.F.C. Leopards.

A.F.C. Leopards has historical ties to the Luhya people, one of Kenya’s largest ethnic groups, who are primarily located in Western Kenya.[10] The club was founded in 1964 as Abaluhya United FC, with the purpose of providing a platform for Luhya players based in Nairobi and other areas. This origin established a cultural link between the club and the Luhya people, which has influenced its identity over the years. The connection to the Luhya community is evident in the composition of players, coaches, and officials associated with the club, many of whom come from Western Kenya, especially Kakamega and nearby counties. This regional representation has contributed to a fan base that identifies with the club through shared ethnic and cultural backgrounds. In 1978, President Daniel arap Moi reaffirmed a policy initiated under Jomo Kenyatta that required all civic and sporting organisations in Kenya to remove names with explicit ethnic identifiers.[11] As a result, Abaluhya Football Club, which had been associated with the Luhya community since its founding in 1964, formally changed its name to All Footballers Confederation Leopards Sports Club, commonly known as A.F.C. Leopards. Nevertheless, while A.F.C. Leopards has grown to attract supporters from various parts of Kenya, the relationship with the Luhya community remains an important aspect of the club’s identity.

A.F.C. Leopards has a long history of political patronage from prominent Luhya leaders. In the late 1970s and 1980s, Martin Shikuku and Moses Mudavadi (father of Musalia Mudavadi) served as early patrons, using their influence to secure employment for players in the civil service and to support club operations.[12] More recently, Musalia Mudavadi, leader of the Amani National Congress and a lifelong Ingwe supporter, has provided direct financial assistance to the club. In June 2020, he donated KSh 633,000 to clear land rates on the 20-acre parcel allocated to the club in Kasarani and has pledged further support for a permanent stadium complex.[13] A.F.C. Leopards has also attracted backing from other Luhya politicians, including Alfred Sambu (former Webuye East MP and ex-chairman of the club) and Cyrus Jirongo,[12] as well as regional leaders such as Ken Lusaka and Edwin Sifuna, who in 2024 publicly endorsed plans to corporatise the club and invited wider investment to secure its financial future.[14]

Honours

League

Cup

Performance in CAF competitions

African Cup of Champions Clubs/CAF Champions League

CAF Confederation Cup

  • Preliminary round exits: 2010

CAF Cup

African Cup Winners' Cup

Players

Current squad

As of 23 December 2025

Goalkeepers

Samuel Ambale (1)

Humphrey Katasi (22)

James Ssetuba (28)

Defenders

Kennedy Owino (27)

Peter Maker (24)

Vincent Mahiga (29)

Randy Bakari (4)

Fredrick Alushula (3)

Samwel Semo (28)

Rami Coulibaly (19)

Midfielders

Tyson Otieno (7)

Kayci Odhiambo (12)

Boniface Munyendo (18)

Musa Oundo (6)

Ronald Sichenje (30)

Kelly Madada (88)

Victor Omune (33)

Jamal Obeid (29)

Victor Otieno (50)

Deng Kang (20)

Brian Wanyama (8)

Forwards

Julius Masaba (10)

Samuel Ssenyonjo (14)

Maxwell Odongo (21)

Christopher Koloti (39)

James Kinyanjui (26)

Ellias Mugane (16)

Hassan Beja (80)

Footballing and medical staff

Position Name
Head coach Kenya Fred Ambani
Assistant coach Kenya Kenneth Wendo
Goalkeeper coach Kenya Stephen Mbogo
Team Manager Kenya Bernard Mang'oli
Team Doctor Kenya Patrick Ngusale
Physiotherapist Kenya Joshua Osir
Fitness coach Kenya Vincent Mbwabi

|-

Board of directors

Position Name
Chairman Kenya Bonface Ambani[15]
Secretary General KenyaIsaac Mulanda Mulindi[15]
Treasurer Kenya Newton Lime Luchacha[15]

Coaches and managers

Kenya Jonathan Niva 1966– 1970
Kenya Jonathan Niva 1973– 1977
Uganda Robert Kiberu 1979– 1984
Austria Gerry Saurer 1984–1985
Wales Graham Williams 1986– 1987
Kenya Joe Masiga 1987 (player/manager)
Ghana Charles Gyamfi 1988– 1991
Malawi Reuben Malola 1991– 1993
Netherlands Jan Koops 2012
Belgium Luc Eymael 2013
Netherlands Hendrik Pieter De Jongh 2014[16]
Croatia Zdravko Logarušić 2015
Netherlands Jan Koops 2016
Belgium Ivan Minnaert 2016
England Stewart Hall 2016– 2017
Romania Dorian Marin 2017
Kenya Robert Matano 2017– 2018
Argentina Rodolfo Zapata 2018
Serbia Nikola Kavazović 2018
Serbia Marko Vasiljević 2018– 2019
Rwanda Andre Cassa Mbungo 2019– 2020
Kenya Anthony Kimani 2020
Czech Republic Tomáš Trucha 2020
Kenya Anthony Kimani† 2020– 2021
Belgium Patrick Aussems 2021– 2023
Czech Republic Tomáš Trucha 2023– 2024
Kenya Fred Ambani 2024– (present)

See also

References

  1. ^ https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/110342-sold-out-stadium-what-you-know-vs-what-law-says
  2. ^ "Kenya - List of Champions". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 12 September 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  3. ^ admin. "The 2000s: Little success and decline". Archived from the original on 9 May 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  4. ^ Daily Nation, 5 January 2004: Oyugi speaks on state of soccer Archived 17 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Kenyafootball, 17 November 2008: AFC Leopards confirmed for 2009 Premier League Archived 16 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ admin (18 March 2019). "The 1960s: The Good Beginnings". AFC Leopards SC. Archived from the original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  7. ^ admin (18 March 2019). "The 1970s: Legacy Building". AFC Leopards SC. Archived from the original on 21 November 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  8. ^ admin (18 March 2019). "The 1980s: The Golden Era". AFC Leopards SC. Archived from the original on 17 November 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  9. ^ a b admin (18 March 2019). "The 1990s: The New Era". AFC Leopards SC. Archived from the original on 16 November 2020. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  10. ^ Onyango, Washington (11 February 2023). "Mashemeji Derby: What makes record league champions tick". The Standard. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  11. ^ Njoroge, Gishinga. "Ethnic thread runs in sports: defying stereotype despite ethnic bias". The Standard. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  12. ^ a b "Paralysis at AFC Leopards shows sorry state of local football". The Standard. 30 January 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  13. ^ Kinyanjui, Jeff (6 June 2020). "Mudavadi rescues financially crippled AFC Leopards". Nairobi News. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  14. ^ Ashihundu, John (25 March 2024). "Western leaders back AFC Leopards' privatisation plans". Daily Nation. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  15. ^ a b c "2022 Annual General Meeting: Club election results". AFC Leopards SC. 27 June 2025. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  16. ^ "Troubled Leopards send Dutch coach De Jongh packing". Daily Nation. Archived from the original on 18 October 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2018.

Sources

  • The Standard, 23 July 2006:Once proud ‘Ingwe’ bite relegation bullet
  • Kenya Premier League,8 February 2009 :Over-flowing crowds finally a 'crisis'? Hope Centre ground fails to cope
  • Official website
  • A.F.C. Leopards Livescores
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