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Tusker are the 2016 Kenya Premier League Champions after cruising to a 1-0 win over AFC Leopards on Sunday in a more than packed Afraha Stadium in Nakuru.

It was all the team needed, a win , to scoop up the league title away from challengers Gor Mahia who their fate remained with brewers loss in today game to keep their hope alive in final match.

A much pressured Tusker looked clumsy in the early minutes of the game failing to utilize chances as the team struggled to find its footing in the game looking disjointed and leaving gaps especially at the back to give room for a lethal Leopard’s Paul Kiogera to explore but luckily for Tusker,Kiogera’s attempts at goal all went begging.

But the team soon settled and Tusker began to explore the right wing bearing fruits there after with Osborne Monday delivering shot with Ian stretching for a save.Leopards however looked the more composed of the two with nothing to lose and they thwarted as much as they received. Wekesa seemed to connect most if not all but one after the other they went begging.

Tusker should have buried the game early in the second half after Shafiq Batambuze  hard short spilled from Leopards keeper Ian Otieno who recovered the ball after it had hit the bar.

But in the 68th minute Shafiq Batambuze from a left back low shot sent between forest of legs past diving Ian Otieno sending the crowd wild as the team took a 1-0 lead.

Shafiq could have scored the second shockingly placing a perfect delivery wayward after Wahome’s run on the left sending the a nice shot with Ian having to stretch to far post for a save.

The final whistle from centre referee sent the Tusker fans stadium into euphoria as Tusker claimed the league title.

Tusker are now  on top of the season on 58 points with one round of matches to go and will be three better than second placed Gor Mahia if the lose last match aganist the defending champions.

Line-ups:

Tusker Starting  IX: David Okelo, Osborne Monday, Shafiq Batambuze, Martin Kiiza, Lloyd Wahome, Humphrey Mieno (Cpt), Hashim Sempala, Noah Wafula, Athony Ndolo, Allan Waga, Robert Omunuk

Subs: Duncan Ochieng, Collins Shivachi, Cercidy Okeyo, Clifford Awanga, Stephen Owusu, Luis Tera, Jackson Macharia

AFC Leopards Starting XI:Ian Otieno, Joshua Mawira, Ramadhan Yakubu, Jackson Saleh, Andrew Tololwa (C), Harun Nyaka, Moussa Sissoko, Alfred Wekesa, Allan Kateregga, Paul Kiongera and John Ndirangu.

Subs: Edwin Mukolwe, Simon Abuko, Benard Mangoli, Cresten Mwanzo, Yusuf Suf and Jack Bruno.

 

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