Kenyan football fans witnessed a goalless draw in the highly anticipated Mashemeji Derby as AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia played out a 0-0 stalemate at Nyayo Stadium on Sunday.
Despite the hype, neither team found the back of the net in this Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League clash. The result was a setback for Gor Mahia, who missed the chance to close the gap on league leaders Kenya Police FC and Tusker.
Team Lineups and Tactical Approaches
As the home team, AFC Leopards coach Fred Ambani named an attacking lineup. Levis Opiyo started in goal, with Lewis Bandi, Semo Samuel, Randi Bakari, and Mousa Oundo forming the backline.
In midfield, youngster Kaycie Odhiambo partnered with Boniface Kweyu and former Gor Mahia player Ovella Ochieng. Up front, Maxwell Otieno supported Kelly Okonji and Beja Hassan in the attack.
On the other side, Gor Mahia coach Sinisa Mihic made a surprising call by benching captain Philemon Otieno. Instead, Geoffrey Ochieng wore the armband, joining Alphonse Omija and Joshua Onyango in defense.
Midfielder Austin Odhiambo started on the bench despite recovering from injury. In midfield, Lawrence Juma, Morrison Enoch, and Alpha Onyango took control, while Musa Sheriff supported Paul Ochuoga and Gedeon Bendeka in attack.
Recent Form and Head-to-Head Record
AFC Leopards entered the derby with two wins and three draws from their last five league games. They secured victories against Nairobi City Stars (1-0) and Mara Sugar (2-1) while drawing against Kariobangi Sharks, Sofapaka, and Kenya Police (all 0-0).
Gor Mahia, on the other hand, had three wins and two draws in their last five matches. They defeated Mathare United (2-1), Kariobangi Sharks (3-1), and Bandari (2-0) but were held to goalless draws by Tusker and Bidco United.
Historically, Gor Mahia has dominated this fixture. Heading into the 96th Mashemeji Derby, Ingwe had won just once in the last six encounters.
Last season, Gor Mahia completed a double over AFC Leopards, winning 2-0 in the first leg and 1-0 in the second leg on their way to a record 21st league title.
In 2023, the teams drew 0-0 in the first leg, but AFC Leopards ended a 10-match winless run against their rivals by securing a 2-1 win in the second leg. In 2021, Gor Mahia won 1-0 in the first leg, while the return fixture ended in a draw.
What’s Next?
Both teams will now shift focus to their next league fixtures. Gor Mahia will aim to bounce back and keep their title hopes alive, while AFC Leopards will look to build on this result and climb higher in the standings.
Stay tuned for more updates on the FKF Premier League!
