Gor Mahia is set to take on arch-rivals AFC Leopards in the second round of the 2024/25 Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League Mashemeji derby on Sunday, 11 May.
The upcoming match marks the 97th meeting between Kenya’s most successful teams, coming at a time when K’Ogalo is aiming for a third consecutive title. Having clinched a historic 21st championship last season, Gor Mahia is once again among the frontrunners for this year’s trophy.
As of last season, Gor Mahia leads the way with 21 Kenyan Premier League titles, while Leopards follow with 12. The rivalry between these clubs dates back to their first encounter on 5 May 1968.
The true essence of the derby arguably emerged in 1980, when K’Ogalo triumphed over Ingwe (formerly known as Abaluhya FC) in the final of the East and Central Africa Club championship in Malawi. Before this, the dominant team in Kenyan football varied based on prevailing performances.
Match Details: When and Where to Watch
The match between Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards will be held on Sunday, 11 May, at Kasarani Stadium. This will mark the first time the derby is played at the Kasarani venue since it was shuttered for renovations by the Kenyan government in August 2023.
Alongside Nyayo Stadium and other venues, Kasarani has been undergoing extensive upgrades in preparation to co-host the 2024 Africa Nations Championships (CHAN) and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The clash will be broadcast live on Tanzania’s Pay TV service Azam TV, which is the official broadcasting partner of the FKF, airing on Azam Sports 4HD, with kick-off scheduled for 14:00.
Gor Mahia vs. AFC Leopards: A Historical Perspective
In recent years, Gor Mahia has largely dominated the derby, leaving Ingwe scrambling to catch up. Records indicate that in the last six encounters, Ingwe has only managed to secure one victory against K’Ogalo.
The first meeting of the current season ended in a 0-0 stalemate at a packed Nyayo Stadium. Previously, K’Ogalo secured victories over their rivals in both encounters last season, with a 2-0 win in the first match and a 1-0 triumph in the second, paving the way for their historic 21st league title.
Gor Mahia Media
During last season, after a 0-0 draw during their first match-up, Ingwe finally broke their winless streak against Gor Mahia, achieving a 2-1 victory in the return fixture. Prior to that, they had gone ten matches without a win against K’Ogalo.
In 2021, Gor Mahia emerged victorious with a 1-0 scoreline in the first round, while the return fixture concluded in a stalemate. The year before, Gor Mahia demonstrated their dominance with a stirring 3-1 victory in the first round and a remarkable 4-1 win in the second, netting a total of seven goals against their rivals while conceding just two.
Current Form: Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards
Coming into this crucial fixture, Gor Mahia sits in second place in the 16-team league, having amassed 53 points from 29 matches. They are a mere two points shy of leaders Kenya Police FC and one point ahead of Tusker FC.
With a record of 15 wins, eight draws, and six losses, K’Ogalo has been in decent form recently. Following the 0-0 stalemate with AFC Leopards, they played five league matches, managing three wins, suffering one defeat, and gaining one draw. Their recent results include a 1-0 victory over KCB, a 1-1 draw with Sofapaka, a surprising 1-0 defeat against FC Talanta, a commanding 4-0 win over Mara Sugar, and a narrow 1-0 win against Shabana FC.
Gor Mahia Media
On the other hand, AFC Leopards are enduring another challenging season, currently sitting in sixth place with 42 points, following a record of 10 wins, 12 draws, and seven defeats. Since their draw with K’Ogalo, they have managed just one win from their last five matches, suffering two losses and two draws.
Recent results include a 2-1 defeat to Kakamega Homeboyz, a 1-0 loss to Posta Rangers, a scoreless draw with Ulinzi Stars, a 3-1 win over Bidco United, and another goalless draw against Tusker.
Ticketing Information for the Mashemeji Derby
As announced by FKF, tickets for the derby are now on sale, with 45,000 tickets available. Of these, 5,000 are designated for VVIP attendees, while the remaining 40,000 are for regular ticket holders. Fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets early to avoid any last-minute inconvenience.
A complete breakdown is as follows: Regular Ticket: KES 300, VVIP Ticket: KES 5,000, and Car Parking: KES 300.
Additionally, the Federation has confirmed that no physical tickets will be sold at the entrance, urging fans to purchase tickets exclusively online via tikiti.co.ke. Ticket sales will conclude on Saturday, 10 May.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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