Continental quest begins for AFC Leopards and Tusker in tricky ties

Image: AFC Leopards

FKF CUP Continental quest begins for AFC Leopards and Tusker in tricky ties

Festus Chuma 08:00 - 04.03.2023

Round of 32 matchups take center stage this weekend across different venues.

Seven-time FKF Cup champions AFC Leopards will lock horns with Zetech Titans at Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani on Saturday afternoon.

Ingwe are keen to avoid an upset against Division One minnows, who are gunning for a spot in the Last 16.

The clash has all the potential of a David versus Goliath classic if the minnows can upstage Kenya's second most decorated club.

Leopards come into the tie on the back of a nine-match streak without a loss after beating KCB 1-0 in their previous FKF Premier League encounter.

Victor Omune, Jafari Owiti, and Cliff Naykeya have been running the channels for Ingwe, and Owiti can be quite a handful, so Leopards will not lack outlets for goals. 

Image: Zetech Titans FC

However, it will not be a tea party for them as Zetech have displayed tenacity when faced with adversity, as shown recently when they held KCB 1-1 in a practice match played at KCB Leadership Center on Wednesday.

Steve Singa scored the equalizing goal for Zitech, who are placed on position nine in Division One League.

The speedy winger's unpredictable and incisive movement unsettled the KCB defense and is likely to threaten the Igwe defense with his movement and combination play.

This will be the first meeting between the two sides, and many expect Leopards to emerge victorious based on the club's experience at cup matches.

In another FKF Cup last-32 match on Saturday, five-time champions Tusker FC will face Garissa-based Berlin FC at the Kasarani Annex.

https://twitter.com/tusker_fc/status/1631167790085226496?s=20

Tusker secured a morale-boosting 1-0 win over Posta Rangers away on Sunday as they continued their resurgence in the Football Kenya Federation Premier League.

The Brewers team are looking to go all the way and reach the FKF Cup final, as they last won the trophy in 2016.

Image: Berlin FC

Berlin will make their debut in the competition and there is no better way to introduce themselves with a win.

Saturday fixtures: 

Rainbow FC v Migori Youth

Berlin v Tusker

Mofa v KCB

Lions v Bidco United

Nyota v Darajani Gogo

Kajiado v Ulinzi Stars

Luanda Villa v Murang’a Seal

Zetech Titans v AFC Leopards

Mwatate United v Coastal Heroes