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An analysis trying to understand why AFC Leopards are struggling to score goals regularly.
When Patrick Aussems’ AFC Leopards thrashed FC Talanta 6-0 in early February, it looked like the club had finally gotten more decisiveness in the final third, as they ruthlessly brushed aside the Ken Kenyatta-coached outfit.
Since then, Ingwe have only managed to score four goals in nine league games, which has not helped them in their quest to become a title contender yet again.
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17:20 - 14.04.2023
FKFPL Aussems pinpoints AFC Leopards' problem after stalemate against Talanta
The Ingwe head coach offered an honest assessment of the "cagey" contest at Nyayo Stadium.
They currently lie sixth on the table, having scored 22 goals all season, making them the most profligate side in the top half of the table.
In the aftermath of the side’s 0-0 draw with FC Talanta, Aussems criticized the team for a lack of decisiveness in the final third for his side’s inability to score goals regularly.
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14:43 - 13.04.2023
FKFPL ‘Juju man’ jibe lands Leopards’ Aussems in trouble as Tusker’s Matano takes legal action
The ‘Lion’ has demanded a written apology from the Belgian in the next three days.
But is it as simple as that? Has the absence of key players in certain games affected Aussems’ preferred setup, meaning they have lesser quality to create chances? Has it been bad luck? Have Leopards had to overly on their three main attackers, Cliff Nyakeya, Victor Omune, and Ojo Olaniyi for the goals? In this article, we try to find out.
“We try to play modern football by creating chances through passing and stuff like that. At the moment, we are lacking precision in the final 20-30 meters of the pitch. We have to improve on that,” a far from pleased Aussems lamented.
The 1-0 win against Bandari in March is a good example of this lack of precision. In the 10th minute of that game, Lukhumwa Moses sends a Crossfield ball towards Peter Ng’ang'a.
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Cliff Nyakeya received a pass and immediately tried to pass it to Ng’anga again, but the pass is overhit.
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In the 1-0 loss to Tusker, another case of a lack of precision is shown in the 58th minute, after a well constructed move by Leopards is not capitalised on.
Left winger Victor Omune receives the ball on the edge of the area but is crowded out by a Tusker FC players.
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He still uses his excellent dribbling ability to work his way through the tight space,
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Before giving the ball to left back Eric Mbithi who has a better angle for the cross.
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The ball finds Cliff Nyakeya on the other side of the pitch, before Nyakeya cuts it back for a late third man runner (Brian Wanyama who is not in the image yet) in the box
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Wanyama fails to get on the end of the shot, and it allows Tusker FC to win posession back.
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After the 0-0 draw against FC Talanta, Aussems says that the squad lacked cohesion in attack because almost 50 percent of the squad were absent, including Cliff Nyakeya who has been going through registration problems, hence missing the last couple of games.
“Almost 50 percent of the team is renewed regarding injuries and suspensions,” he said,” the good thing is that we kept a clean sheet, but the final score remains 0-0,” he added.
“Talanta came here for a draw and they got one point. We came here looking for a win, unfortunately, we only got one point as well.”
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17:30 - 13.04.2023
FKFPL Talanta hold AFC Leopards in dour match
Ingwe's winless run stretched to three games.
Cliff Nyakeya has been a big miss recently, considering he gives Leopards width with his pace on the right flank, and his partnership with Victor Omune on the opposite flank helps stretch opposition defences.
Nyakeya found the back of the net that day with a rasping shot after pouncing on an enticing pass from Victor Omune.
17:20 - 14.04.2023
FKFPL Aussems pinpoints AFC Leopards' problem after stalemate against Talanta
The Ingwe head coach offered an honest assessment of the "cagey" contest at Nyayo Stadium.
Against Kariobangi Sharks, their ability to stretch defences on the counter attack is evident. Jaffari Owiti is the man in posession and about to release Omune as shown below.
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Omune chases that ball and gets on the end of it, but notices Nyakeya is asking for the ball on the other flank.
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He cuts back the ball across goal hoping Nyakeya gets on the end of it.
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But the Sharks Goalkeeper intercepts it. However, it shows the kind of danger Nyakeya and Omune possess as a wing partnership for AFC and with more precision, the chances can be converted.
Nyakeya and Ojo Olaniyi are Leopards’ joint top scorers with six goals, followed by Victor Omune on 5 goals. Those are 17 goals scored by the three forwards, with the rest of the squad combined, scoring the remaining 5.
The chances being missed by other players like in the screenshot that shows Brian Wanyama missing that chance against Tusker shared above may suggest so.
Aussems wants his side to overload the opposition box whenever possible so that players can get on the end of cutbacks. Sometimes, those meant to overload the box are not getting inside soon enough.
In the game against Talanta, right winger Maxwell Otieno finds the overlapping Boniface Mukekhe with a pass having drawn in Talanta defenders to him.
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Mukhekhe gets the ball and has all the time and space to hit the cross early, but none of AFC’s other runners (Eugene Mukangula (captain), Victor Omune (number 33) and Jafari Owiti (not in the picture) have arrived in the box fast enough.
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The low cross comes in with both Mukangula and Omune missing, but Owiti is in a position to shoot as his body shape suggests so,
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But he fails to get on the end of the cross, and the chance goes begging.
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The examples above show that the chances are being created but they are not being converted. Perhaps, Aussems' thoughts on the side lacking precision in the final third are justified. Work needs to be done on the training ground to improve this if Leopards are to stand a chance of closing the gap into the top 4.
Their only realistic chance of qualifying for continental competition now lies on winning the FKF Cup. for them to win it, they will have to become more precise by getting on the end of chances created.
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06:00 - 15.04.2023
FKFPL Ken Kenyatta unhappy despite Talanta’s solid defensive display against AFC Leopards
“That is not how we trained for the game but it worked for us,” the gaffer reluctantly said.
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