AFC Leopards can now sign and register players in front of the 2023–2024 Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League side league season, after to approval from Fifa.

On August 14, 2023, the premier league team released a statement confirming the change.

The clearance came after the club and the coach, Patrick Aussems, who is owed Sh20 million, reached an agreement on a payment schedule.

The team announced in a statement that the management and Patrick Aussems, our former coach, have had several fruitful meetings and have come to an amicable resolution to the contract issue.


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“As a result, the player registration ban previously imposed on the club by Fifa has been lifted. The team now looks forward to the new season with renewed focus and dedication.”

In a letter received by Nairobi News, dated August 14, 2023, and signed by Julien Deux, Head of Judicial Bodies for Fifa, it was stated that the matter against Leopards had been resolved.

However, Fifa's communication warned that the issue would be reopened if the club did not abide by the agreement.

“We would like to inform the parties that the present disciplinary proceedings against the respondents, the AFC Leopards club, are hereby closed since the parties settled their disputes, and hence the registration ban imposed, has been lifted,” read Fifa’s letter.


Leopards have recruited six players from Nzoia Sugar, including Boniface Munyendo, Randy Bakari, Vincent Mahiga, Hassan Beja, and Yasin Sije, due to the decision to lift the suspension.

Former Mathare United defender Gideon Were, former Wazito midfielder Kevin Kimani, and his Kenya Police counterpart Clifton Miheso, have joined the team.

Since May 2023, Leopards have been suspended due to a salary disagreement with Aussems.

The club's failure to promptly pay the Belgian coach his dues was the root of the disagreement between these two parties.

As a result of his lawsuit against the club, he was given Sh20 million in overdue dues, damages, and penalties.

Aussems, who previously managed several of Africa's premier clubs, including Tanzania's Simba and Sudan's Al Hilal, departed the organization on June 10, 2023, citing personal reasons.