AFC Leopards vice captain Clifton Miheso is drawing positives from their defeat in the Elijah Lidonde tournament which he feels will help them improve in the second leg
AFC Leopards vice captain Clifton Miheso believes his team-mates’ showing at the Elijah Lidonde Super Cup in Kakamega will put them in good stead to continue their redemption in the second leg of the FKFPL season.
The final, held at the iconic Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega, showcased the indomitable spirit of both teams but Davies Kasirye's 75th-minute strike sealed the trophy for Homeboyz.
It was a chance for Homeboyz to seek revenge after suffering a painful 2-0 loss to AFC Leopards in a recent FKF Premier League encounter.
However, Miheso has taken the defeat on the chin, claiming the tournament was aimed at helping the coach continue to instill his ideas in the team.
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“We wanted to use this free tournament to try and fix the issues in our team and to lay foundations for the second leg,” Miheso said.
“So far, so good. The coach tried one team in one game and another in the second so at least we now have a little picture about our team.
“Hopefully, this tournament will put us in a good place to start the second leg well and to get good results but the morale in the team is very high.”
Leopards got their second win of the season against Homeboyz, beating them 2-0 at the Nyayo National Stadium a fortnight ago, before being held to a 1-1 draw by Murang’a Seal in their last competitive fixture of 2023.
09:30 - 27.12.2023
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With 2024 set to be a pivotal year for Harambee Stars given the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and the 2024 CHAN on home soil, is the team ready following a mixed 2023?
The side sit 14th in the league after accumulating 15 points from 16 games, but will be hoping they have done enough preparations ahead of a crunch second leg as they continue their surge up the table.
What is the Elijah Lidonde Cup?
The Elijah Lidonde Cup, named in honour of former AFC Leopards great, has become an annual spectacle that brings together some of the best football talents in Kenya.
This year's tournament featured four formidable teams: AFC Leopards, Kakamega Homeboyz, Nzoia Sugar FC, and Mulembe United FC.
The competition, held over two days, showcased the passion and commitment of these teams to pay homage to a football legend.
10:00 - 29.12.2023
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K’Ogalo have set an unbeaten record in the league this year, which puts them on course to replicate their 2015 season when they won it unbeaten.
In the 2022 edition of the tournament, AFC Leopards emerged victorious with an 8-7 win on post-match penalties against Nzoia Sugar.
This victory only added fuel to the already burning rivalry between AFC Leopards and Kakamega Homeboyz, setting the stage for the dramatic 2023 final.
Homeboyz not only secured the coveted Elijah Lidonde Cup but also earned a handsome prize of Ksh1 million with Leopards taking home Ksh500,000.
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10:00 - 28.12.2023
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From FIFA and FKF sanctions, infighting among the executive to poor performances on the pitch, AFC Leopards’ 2023 was bad in every aspect, which leaves them fearing relegation