Mashemeji Derby: Ambani Unveils Leopards’ Challenges Before Showdown with Gor Mahia

AFC Leopards’ head coach Fred Ambani (48) has expressed his apprehension as the team gears up to take on arch-rivals Gor Mahia in the highly anticipated Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League Mashemeji derby on Sunday, March 2nd.

This match marks the first derby of the season between the two Kenyan giants after the initial encounter scheduled for November 24th was postponed due to inadequate pitch conditions to accommodate both sets of supporters. The derby will take place following a lacklustre 0-0 draw for Ingwe against Sofapaka on Wednesday, February 19th.

Leopards receive a wake-up call ahead of the derby

After the match, coach Ambani struggled to articulate his team’s performance, acknowledging that the lack of matchday intensity came at an opportune moment for him to rectify errors before the showdown with Gor Mahia.

“To be honest, I cannot comprehend what happened against Sofapaka. It’s perplexing as it’s not typical for us to perform so poorly. It was disappointing across all departments, but we can be grateful for the single point we earned.”

Ambani, who has played for various clubs including Oserian FC, AFC Leopards, Nakuru FC, Kenya Pipeline FC, Chemelil Sugar FC, and the Kenya national team Harambee Stars, expressed dissatisfaction with the entire team’s performance, noting that no area seemed effective.

“If you analyse our performance, we lacked aggression up front; we weren’t effective in attack as is characteristic of our play. Our wide players were not demanding the ball, which indicates deeper issues within the squad. We need to reevaluate and identify what went wrong, as we normally create numerous opportunities but managed only a handful.”

Ambani elaborated: “Our buildup play was disappointingly slow. We can’t expect to have pace in our attacks when our midfield is sluggish. From goalkeeping, defence, midfield, all the way to our attack, there are problems that require immediate attention. This should serve as a wake-up call ahead of the derby, and perhaps this performance will motivate us to regain our competitive edge.”

Reflecting on the lead-up to the derby, Ambani, brother to former Tusker striker Boniface, remarked: “This truly is a wake-up call, as it forces us to reflect on our shortcomings. We need to figure out what went wrong and how we can address these issues.”

“In a way, the subpar performance might be beneficial because if we had approached the derby with undeserved confidence, it could have backfired. Now we have the opportunity to make necessary adjustments before the match.”

Gor Mahia’s recent derby dominance

In recent years, Gor Mahia has been dominant in the derby, with Ingwe often struggling to keep up. Statistics highlight that in their last six encounters, Ingwe has managed just one victory over K’Ogalo.

Last season, K’Ogalo claimed bragging rights by achieving a double over their rivals, winning 2-0 in their first-round collision and securing a 1-0 victory in the second round, on their way to clinching their record 21st league title.

In 2023, the first-round clash ended in a goalless draw, but Ingwe reversed the trend in the second-round fixture, emerging victorious with a 2-1 win, which ended their 10-match winless streak against the champions.

During the 2021 season, Gor Mahia secured a narrow 1-0 win in their first encounter, with the teams sharing the spoils in the return leg.

In 2019, Gor Mahia demonstrated their supremacy, thrashing Ingwe 3-1 in the first round and completing a memorable double with a staggering 4-1 victory in the second match. Throughout that season, Gor Mahia found the back of the net seven times against their rivals while conceding only twice.

As the teams prepare for the upcoming clash on March 2nd, Gor Mahia find themselves in a stronger position in the league standings. K’Ogalo currently rank third in the 18-team league with 35 points from 20 matches, boasting 10 wins, five draws, and five losses.

AFC Leopards sit in fifth place with 34 points from nine wins, seven draws, and five defeats. By 2024, Gor Mahia had secured a record 21 Kenyan Premier League titles, while Leopards have claimed the league crown 12 times.

The heated rivalry is said to have truly begun in 1980 when K’Ogalo dethroned Ingwe (then known as Abaluhya FC) in the final of the East and Central Africa Club championship held in Malawi. Prior to this event, dominance in Kenyan football oscillated based on which teams were performing well at the time.