On Saturday 6 March 2021, Nairobi City Stars will be away to AFC Leopards in a round 15 Premier League tie at Kasarani starting 3pm.
The two teams have met 18 times previously; twice in the 2005/6 season, and 16 times from the 2009 to 2016 seasons.
Overall, Leopards has registered seven wins, City Stars six wins and the other five games have ended in draws.
In nine away games, City Stars has managed one win over Leopards, drawn five and lost three times.
Leopards first hosted a Robert Matano-coached City Stars (then World Hope) on 22 January 2006 at Nyayo Stadium, a game they went on to lose 1-0. Steve Biko scored the lone goal.
It was double victory over Leopards that season as City Stars won the reverse game with another 1-0 win. Geoffrey Okoth’s goal at Ruraka was the difference.
The last City Stars-Leopards Premier League meeting was back on 21 August 2016 at Afraha Stadium which ended 0-0. City Stars then got relegated from the Premier League at the close of that season.
In between that game and the upcoming one, City Stars has met AFC Leopards just once during a preseason friendly game at Hope Centre on 10 August 2019. The latter won it 1-0 thanks to an opportunistic goal by Vincent Oburu in the second half.
Coaches
Bosnian Sanjin Alagic will lead City Stars on Saturday against Leopards.
He’ll be the 13th City Stars coach to face Leopards after Matano (2 games), Oliver Page (1), Ken Odhiambo (4), Gideon Ochieng (2), Bai Malleh Wadda (1), Charles Omondi (1), Tim Bryet (1), Robinson Ndubuisi (1), Paul Nkata (1), Gabriel Njoroge (1), John ‘Bobby’ Ogola (1) and Richard Tamale Pinto (1).
Sanjin joined City Stars prior to the 2019/20 season and led the side to promotion to the Premier League after four seasons out.
Sanjin will be up against Belgian Patrick Aussems who recently joined the club.
Recent form
The two teams come to the game on the high of recent back-to-back wins.
Leopards is basking from straight wins over Ulinzi Stars at Kasarani (1-0) and Kakamega Homeboyz in Bukhungu (2-1) as City Stars are on three game wining streak over Zoo FC (2-1), Western Stima (2-0) and Mathare United (2-0).
Leopards is up fourth in the 18-team log with 25 points from 12 games as City Stars is ninth with 19 points from 14 games.
Venue
Rather interestingly, in all previous 18 Premier League meetings, Leopards and City Stars have never met at MISC Kasarani. The Saturday duel will be the first at the venue.
They two previously played at Nyayo Stadium (ten times), Hope Centre (once), Mumias Complex (Once), City Stadium (4), Ruaraka (once) and Afraha Stadium (once).
For City Stars, it will be their first visit to MISC Kasarani since 30th October 2016 where they lost to Homeboyz 3-1 to earn relegation after 12 seasons in the top flight.
Top scorers
In the previous 18 games, City Stars has outscored Leopards 16-15 goals and only just twice have there be no goals (0-0 draws).
The scorers have been diverse but a brace for Dan Sserunkuma in a 3-0 win at Nyayo Stadium in May 2012 makes him the top scorer for City Stars against ingwe.
Likewise, braces by Hugo Nzangu and Bernard Mang’oli in identical 2-1 wins over City Stars in Apr 2011 and Jul 2015, both at Nyayo, make them Ingwe’s top scorers against Simba wa Nairobi.
Player links
Across the two clubs, a list of players have been on the other side and will be up against their former employers.
Stopper Salim Shitu Abdalla, flyer Azizi Zizzou Okaka and mid lynchpin Peter Pinchez Opiyo were at ingwe at different times before joining Simba wa Nairobi.
Recently acquired defenders Tedian Atuto Esilaba and Stephen Inganji, as well as Said Tsuma were a part of City Stars, but are now at ingwe.
Summary
KPL Games: 18 (Leopards wins -7, City Stars wins – 6, Draws – 5)
City Stars vs AFC Leopards (Away games)
22-Jan-06: AFC Leopards vs World Hope, Nyayo Stadium, 0-1 (W)
22-Aug-09: AFC Leopards vs City Stars, Nyayo Stadium, 0-0 (D)
18-Apr-10: AFC Leopards vs City Stars, City Stadium, 1-1 (D)
21-Aug-11: AFC Leopards vs City Stars, Nyayo Stadium, 2-1 (L)
13-Jul-12: AFC Leopards vs City Stars, Nyayo Stadium, 1-0 (L)
18-Aug-13: AFC Leopards vs City Stars, Nyayo Stadium, 1-1 (D)
12-Apr-14: AFC Leopards vs City Stars, Mumias Complex, 1-1 (D)
19-Jul-15: AFC Leopards vs City Stars, Nyayo Stadium, 2-1 (L)
21-Aug-16: AFC Leopards vs City Stars, Afraha Stadium, 0-0 (D)
06-Mar-21: AFC Leopards vs City Stars, MISC Kasarani, ??
Top scorers
vs City Stars: Bernard Mang’oli, Hugo Nzangu – 2 each
vs AFC Leopards: Dan Sserunkuma – 2 goals