Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has released a statement confirming the postponement of the Mashemeji Derby that was to be staged this Sunday, 2, 2025.

In its statement, the football governing body has acknowledged the inconveniences occasioned by the cancellation of the match, citing the concern and security of the parties involved, especially the fans.

The FKF statement comes as the excitement of what would be the 96th league encounter between the two sides was building up.

“The decision follows the inability of the designated home team to secure a suitable venue for the match. Nyayo National Stadium and MISC Kasarani, the primary venues for such high-profile fixtures, remain unavailable due to ongoing renovations in preparation for the CHAN tournament set for August.

“We know this is disappointing for the fans, players, and everyone who had been looking forward to the match, but we are working to ensure it is played under the right conditions. A new date for the match will be communicated in due course. We appreciate your patience and understanding,” part of the statement, released on Thursday, February 27, 2025, read.

Rescheduled

The showdown for the highly anticipated derby was to happen on Sunday in what was a rescheduled date from the initial date of October 2024.

The was, however, forced to be cancelled for the second time after AFC Leopards failed to secure a venue to host such a high-profile game.

Ingwe, in its statement on Thursday, February 26, confirmed the derby was off.

“Due to the unavailability of the match venue, we hereby postpone our match to a later date. We shall communicate the rescheduled date in due course,” AFC Leopards stated.

FKF has further revealed their engagements in plans to secure a suitable venue, which will be settled upon.

Infrastructural challenge

The on-and-off nature of the Mashemeji derby highlights the endemic infrastructural challenge that has plagued Kenyan football for more than a decade.

Kenya’s preparations to host the African Nations Championship in August are in top gear. The tourney is meant to test the nation’s capacity ahead of the African Cup of Nations that will be hosted in the country for the first time in the nation’s football history in 2027.

The problem of infrastructure has, however, punctuated the preparations and build-up to the continental tournaments.

In February, the month that coincided with CHAN’s kick-off date, CAF announced the postponement of the local-based players tournament, citing the major delays in infrastructural projects with a new date of August.

The developments accorded the county and sports body more time to shore up and fast-track needed projects and stadium rehabilitation in time for the biennial tournament.

The spotlight remains on what the new administration undertakes in ensuring that rights are retained by Kenya as well as the 2027 AFCON games, which will be co-hosted alongside Uganda and Tanzania.

Kenya has in the past been denied hosting rights in 2018, with Morocco hosting the CHAN games.