Beja the hero as AFC Leopards down Tusker to keep slim title hopes alive

Hassan Beja scored a late winner for AFC Leopards as they squeezed out a 1-0 victory over Tusker at the Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday, 22 March.Follow our WhatsApp channel for more newsThe half-time substitute was at the right place to lift an 80th minute rebound past a stubborn Tusker defense, giving his side a much-needed win that not only completed the double over the Brewers, but cut the gap to their arch-rivals Gor Mahia to seven points.𝐅𝐔𝐋𝐋 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 What a win 💪A double over the brewers #𝐋𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬𝐕𝐬𝐓𝐮𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐫 | #𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐀𝐅𝐂 𝐋𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 1️⃣ 𝐓𝐮𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐂 0️⃣⚽️ Hassan Beja 🤝 @betikaKe#𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐰𝐞𝐍𝐚𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐤𝐚 | #𝐎𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 pic.twitter.com/7PNRGjoReJ— AFC Leopards (@AFCLeopards) March 22, 2026 It had been a tough, balanced affair between the two sides before-hand, with Ingwe looking the superior team, but laboring hard to crack the code on a resilient Tusker, who came into the tie riding on a three-match league winning streak.The honor would ultimately fall on speedy winger Beja, whose introduction at halftime proved to be a masterstroke by Fred Ambani, as he pounced on a loose clearance from James Kinyanjui's blocked shot, before scooping over the pair of the outstanding Pavelh Ndzilah, and his last man Collins Odhiambo.The win for Leopards means the title race remains alive going into the two-week international break, while Tusker reel in Julien Mette’s second league defeat since his appointment last month.##NAJAVA_MECA_9612721##Match ReportFor the second time running, AFC Leopards sat back in vain to watch their rivals build the gap at the top to double figures, placing the onus on themselves to prolong the race.Still plagued by a host of injuries to their key men, Ingwe opted to make just one alteration – albeit a forced one – to the side that edged out Nairobi United in midweek, bringing forth James Ssetuba to replace the injured Humphrey Katasi in goal.Tusker, on the back of some Mette-resurgence, went unchanged, building up the expectation of a juicy tie.It ended up being the complete opposite of it, as both sides carved little to no chances in a physical but tightly-contested first half.©Gad IsaacThat assessment might have been advanced thanks to some poor finishing by either team, as they both found ways to stand in their path.First was Tusker's Thomas Omole, who despite being found unmarked inside the area by Stephen Etyang, blazed over in the third minute with the goal gaping.Next was Ingwe's Randi Bakari, who also fired over after failing to make count a string of passes inside the box from Kinyanjui and Samuel Semo.The much-maligned Samuel Ssenyonjo did not help himself in the 24th minute, when he whiffed at a teasing cross from Kinyanjui to leave the fans astounded.25'A well weighed in cross from Kinyanjui from the right wingSsenyonjo fails to connect it at goal #𝐋𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬𝐕𝐬𝐓𝐮𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐫 | #𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐀𝐅𝐂 𝐋𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 0️⃣ 𝐓𝐮𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐂 0️⃣#𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐰𝐞𝐍𝐚𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐤𝐚 | #𝐎𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫— AFC Leopards (@AFCLeopards) March 22, 2026 At half-time, the stats told the better story, as Tusker were the only side to have a shot on target – one.The start of the second half offered Ambani a chance to ignite some freshness, summoning Beja and Kelly Madada in the place of the ineffective Ronald Sichenje and Boniface Munyendo.Those changes almost bore instant fruits as the magical Tyson Otieno broke clear in the 46th minute, only to shoot straight at a sprawling Ndzila.Sseyonjo was the next man to test the Congolese shot-stopper in the 54th minute, but for his header from a corner to be comfortably gathered.©Gad IsaacTusker, who here opted to sit back, carved out a suprise attack when Ibrahim Joshua teed up Erick Kapaito, only for the striker to shoot down-low at Ssetuba.Joshua was at the hour-mark deemed lucky by many to avoid a second booking for a nasty foul in midfield, before being quickly hauled off for Fabian Adikiny.Kakamega Homeboyz' title hopes suffer yet another dent after draw with BandariThe stodgy nature of the tie pointed one way – a goalless draw – only for Beja to react quickest to a blocked shot, slightly hesitate, then dink past the keeper and a last defender.Marathons may at some point demand one to crawl, and a crippled AFC Leopards are doing just that.