Few clubs have moved with as much clarity and urgency as AFC Leopards in this window, and the scale of it tells a story of intent that echoes from Dandora to Nyayo. At the heart of it sits the AFC Leopards Transfer Activity, a sweeping plan that blends proven FKF Premier League quality with fearless youth, all aligned to a fresh push for trophies and respect.
A statement signing with family ties
The headline arrival is attacking midfielder Tyson Otieno, who has signed a two-year deal after departing Kenya Police FC, where he helped steer the law enforcers to a historic maiden league title. Creative, technically sharp and brave between the lines, Otieno gives Ingwe a new conductor in advanced areas and a figure who understands the league’s rhythm.
There is a powerful human angle too. Tyson is the elder brother of Gor Mahia and Harambee Stars playmaker Austin Odhiambo, a thread that instantly adds spice to the Mashemeji Derby and connects two of Kenya’s most storied institutions through one footballing family. Austin began his senior journey at Leopards after rising through the club’s youth in 2016, while Tyson now follows that family path in blue and white, albeit later in his career.
Otieno spoke with purpose after his unveiling, crediting head coach Fred Ambani as a decisive factor. He described Leopards as a legendary club and promised total commitment in the quest to end the long wait for silverware, a message that resonates with a fan base that craves artistry allied with end product.
Firepower and width added in attack
Ingwe did not stop at one marquee move. The front line has been retooled with a mix of pace, end product and instincts inside the box. Ugandan forward Samuel Ssenyonjo arrives from Express FC on a two-year deal after scoring 12 goals in the Ugandan league, and he will be tasked with leading the line, chasing double figures in Kenya and providing a focal point for the new-look attack.
On the flank, James Kinyanjui joins from KCB FC after a stellar campaign that returned 5 goals and 14 assists, and his two-year contract signals trust in his ability to stretch teams and create. The club was unequivocal in its message when unveiling him, and the numbers back it up, a winger with range on the delivery and timing in the final third is often the difference in tight matches.
There is also the addition of striker Elias Mugane, signed from National Super League side Fortune Sacco after a prolific season that included 22 goals and 9 assists in 29 matches. Mugane arrives as a finisher who can attack crosses and run channels, and in a squad now blessed with supply, his instincts could prove invaluable in converting pressure into points.
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Steel and balance at the back
Behind the forwards, Leopards have prioritized solidity. Ivory Coast centre-back Rami Lasso Coulibaly has joined on a two-year deal from Moroccan outfit Chabab Alam Tanger, with anticipation, reading of play and aggressiveness highlighted as key strengths. He adds left-sided balance and will compete for minutes with Peter Maker, Ken Owino and Randi Bakari, an internal battle that should raise standards across the back line.
On the flanks, the club completed a permanent move for marauding fullback Brian Ojok from Soy United. Well known for his overlaps and supply, Ojok recorded 17 assists and 1 goal in Division One last season, and he effectively steps into the void left by Lewis Bandi, who crossed to Gor Mahia during the CHAN competitions in Nairobi.
The reshaping of the defensive unit also intersects with change in goal. Outgoing transfers include goalkeeper Levis Opiyo, while forward Ovella Ochieng has also confirmed his departure ahead of the new season, and these decisions clear space for a refreshed hierarchy as Ambani’s staff tighten roles and responsibilities.
Youth pathway and a bold bet on the future
Beyond headline arrivals, the clearest signal of long-term thinking is the recruitment of Butere Boys captain Dennis Kikwae on a five-year deal. A Form Four student who reported to camp shortly after the FEASSSA Games in Kakamega County, Kikwae drew direct interest from Fred Ambani, who personally scouted him during the tournament.
The numbers from school football are eye-catching. Kikwae registered 56 goals from zonal qualifiers to the East African stage, then added four more at East Africa while leading Butere Boys to an unbeaten run into the semi-finals. He also became the first captain in the school’s history to guide any sporting discipline to the East African level, and his trajectory reflects the hard work of a technical bench that has made Butere a cradle of Kenyan talent.
Leopards have doubled down on that ethos internally. The club has promoted midfield prospect Deng Kang to the senior team on a three-year contract, attacking midfielder Jamal Obeid has also committed for three years after a loan at Soy United, and former ADF Youth goalkeeper Samuel Ambale has joined from Division 2 side Nashville FC. The pathway from the Cubs to the first team is no longer a slogan, it is a living pipeline.
Dressing room continuity and leadership
Retention matters as much as recruitment, and Leopards have moved to protect their core. Versatile midfielder Brian Wanyama, a graduate of the Cubs, has renewed his contract and set the tone with a public pledge to chase trophies. His voice carried both belief and accountability as he referenced a strong preseason and support from the club hierarchy.
I am happy to renew my contract with this great club, and I am hopeful of good things ahead. We know this year we will achieve great things. I want to urge the fans to continue their support in our games, and we promise to bring silverware this season.
The leadership layer is further strengthened by the renewals of Kayci Odhiambo and veteran striker Victor Omune. Continuity around experienced campaigners provides a bedrock for new signings to settle and for academy graduates to grow without being rushed into roles they are not ready for.
Outgoings and the shape of the squad
Every rebuild carries its departures, and Ingwe’s have been measured rather than disruptive. The confirmed exits provide clarity on where minutes and responsibility will be redistributed within Ambani’s plan.
- Lewis Bandi departed to Gor Mahia during the CHAN competitions in Nairobi,
- Levis Opiyo and Ovella Ochieng confirmed their departures ahead of the new season.
The balance sheet of ins and outs leans toward depth and variety, especially in positions that directly affect chance creation and defensive control. With internal promotions supplementing external buys, the squad now carries multiple profiles for similar roles, a hallmark of sides that compete from August to May with consistency.
The big unveiling and what to watch
Leopards will present their new-look squad at Dandora Stadium in a friendly against Zanzibar’s New Kings on Sunday 7 September, a day designed to celebrate both ambition and community. The club has promised activities around the match, and the exhibition itself will serve as a first glimpse of combinations that could define the early weeks of the league.
Supporters will be eager to see James Kinyanjui on the left or right flank feeding a striker line led by Ssenyonjo or Mugane, with Otieno knitting moves in the half spaces. On the opposite side of the ball, the reading and aggression of Coulibaly should be on show, while the overlapping thrust of Ojok can stretch opponents and provide cutbacks that have been lacking in recent seasons.
For the academy faithful, minutes for Deng Kang and Obeid would be a symbolic bridge from the Cubs to the senior stage. And should Kikwae be around the group, even as he completes the school calendar, his presence will underline what AFC Leopards want to be in the next cycle, a home where talent is nurtured, trusted and unleashed.
The road to Nyayo and the season ahead
The countdown is already ticking to the league opener against Ezekiel Akwana’s Sofapaka at Nyayo National Stadium on Saturday 25 September, kick off 4.00 pm. Between now and then, the emphasis will be on chemistry and clarity, on building relationships that turn promising profiles into a functioning unit.
The pieces are there. A creator in Tyson Otieno, finishers with varied skill sets in Ssenyonjo and Mugane, service providers out wide in Kinyanjui and an overlapping Ojok, plus an Ivorian pillar in Coulibaly to marshal the back line. Add the energy and ambition of Wanyama, the leadership of Omune and the hunger of youth, and the pathway to sustained improvement becomes visible.
None of it is guaranteed and that is the beauty of sport. For a club that measures itself against the biggest days and the most demanding rivals, this window reads like a promise to its people. Ingwe have acted with conviction, they have widened the talent base and they have spoken openly about the pursuit of silverware. If the work on the training pitch mirrors the clarity of this recruitment, Dandora will be a celebration and Nyayo could be the start of something that has been too long in coming.
Key arrivals to watch
- Tyson Otieno on a two-year deal to add creativity and control,
- James Kinyanjui on a two-year deal after 5 goals and 14 assists at KCB FC,
- Samuel Ssenyonjo on a two-year deal after 12 league goals in Uganda.
Academy and youth promotions
- Deng Kang promoted on a three-year contract,
- Jamal Obeid signed on a three-year contract after a loan at Soy United,
- Samuel Ambale joined from Division 2 side Nashville FC.
Defensive reinforcements
- Rami Lasso Coulibaly signed from Chabab Alam Tanger to strengthen the heart of defense,
- Brian Ojok arrived from Soy United after 17 Division One assists,
- Continuity retained with Kayci Odhiambo as part of the core.
From the headline-grabbing family story to the quiet work of building depth, AFC Leopards have put together a window that feels both ambitious and coherent. The task now is to translate potential into points, and to turn the buzz of unveiling day into the habit of winning on league weekends.
