High-flying Leopards out to extend lead

What you need to know:

Premiership leaders take on struggling Rangers in mid-week clash at Nyayo tonight

AFC Leopards will be seeking to extend their lead at the top of the Kenyan Premier League table when they take on relegation-threatened Rangers at the Nyayo National Stadium on Wednesday night (7pm).

Leopards have won four out of four second leg games and are expected to have an easy afternoon against the 15th-placed team.

The 13-time champions prepared for tonight’s game with a 2-0 win over Mathare United in the FKF Cup on Saturday. New signing Floribert Ndayisaba will make his league debut and is likely to be fielded in the midfield alongside Martin Imbalambala, with Mike Baraza and Allan Wanga upfront.

Lethal winger Paul Were could miss the game as he recovers from an ankle injury but coach Jan Koops is optimistic of good results.

“Were has been in a good form since he joined us and we’ll miss him. But I have a big squad which can do the job,’’ said Koops.
His opposite number, Rangers’ James Nandwa, was guarded in his comments.

Strong squad

“It’s not going to be easy against Leopards. They are on a roll and we have to be at our best,’’ said Rangers coach James Nandwa.

“They (Leopards) are playing good football and getting the results and that’s why they are at the top. We are just on the recovery path and I hope we can get another three points,’’ he added. Leopards mauled Rangers 6-2 in the first leg in Mumias but Nandwa says this time it will be a different ball game.

“We have strengthened our squad. We lost so many players in the June transfer window but our new players are doing a good job.’’

With 40 points, a win give Leopards a major boost as they seek to reclaim the title they last won in 1998. A draw will encourage the chasing pack.