AFC Leopards host Gor Mahia in the 96th league Mashemeji Derby

By Michael Kirwa
Sunday, March 30, 2025

Gor Mahia are currently third in the league with 42 points, trailing Kenya Police (45 points) and leaders (45 points). AFC Leopards sit fifth with 36 points.

AFC Leopards will on Sunday host Gor Mahia at the Nyayo National Stadium in the 96th league meeting between the clubs. The match will kick off at 4 pm.

Ingwe will be determined to end a poor run of results against their eternal rivals, who defeated them home and away last season.

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Gor Mahia have dominated the encounter recently, with their only loss in the past nine years coming in 2023 when Leopards claimed a 2-1 victory in May of that year.

Gor Mahia enters the derby with a historical advantage, having won 33 league meetings against AFC Leopards, while scoring 90 goals and conceding 80. AFC Leopards have 28 league wins against Gor Mahia, while 34 encounters have ended in draws.

Speaking ahead of the match at a press conference held on Friday, AFC Leopards coach Boniface Ambani stated that he had only one injury concern but did not mention the name of the player.

"I hope the player will be fit on Sunday," he said.

Ambani, who took over at the club in December 2024 following the dismissal of the Czech Tomas Trucha, also expressed confidence in his team winning the match.

"I never lost the derby as a player and I am not about to start doing so as a coach. I have prepared my players mentally for this match and I am confident they will deliver," Ambani, who was with the league with AFC Leopards in 1998, said.

His Gor Mahia counterpart, the Croatian Sinisa Mihic, who became Gor Mahia's coach in early February, was equally confident, stating: "I am sure we will maintain our excellent run against AFC Leopards. We are favourites based on form, and I’d say our chances of winning are 70-30."

Mihic also shared an update on the fitness of K'Ogalo's star midfielder, Austine Odhiambo, saying, "He is still nursing an injury, and I am not sure if he will be ready to play on Sunday."

Ambani and Mihic also stated that they expect their opponent to change their playing style for this game.

"Gor Mahia have seen me at their matches, so they may change their playing style," Ambani noted.

"The match will be unpredictable. AFC Leopards may adjust their approach, so we have to be ready for anything," Mihic added.

The two teams are set to meet again on Sunday next week at the same venue, which was recently declared fit to host matches after it had been closed for renovations, as the country prepares to host CHAN 2024 in August this year and AFCON in 2027.

The captains of both teams acknowledged the added pressure of playing the derby on consecutive weekends, but they insisted they were unfazed.