Gor Mahia players jet back after humiliating defeat in Tanzania
By Arnold Ngure, September 11, 2025Gor Mahia players have jetted back into the country after a humiliating defeat by the neighbouring Tanzanian side Simba SC on Wednesday, September 10, 2025.
In a statement on Thursday, September 11, 2025, the team confirmed that the players were safely back in the country from Tanzania.
“The team has just arrived from Tanzania; everything is fine and everyone is safe,” Gor Mahia stated.
In the friendly clash organized to mark Simba Day celebrations, the Tanzanian side exhibited dominance over multiple-time champions of the Kenya Premier League, K’Ogallo, fueling a raging banter on which country, between Kenya and Tanzania, plays the best football.
The 2-0 win by Simba was sealed by Abdurazak Hamza and Steven Mukwala, sending the packed Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam into a frenzy.
Lack of ardent fans
While Gor Mahia was in foreign territory away from its bulging and vibrant supporters, the Simba SC fans took every advantage to settle a supremacy battle between the two countries.
The match, played less than 48 hours after a crucial World Cup qualifier, raised eyebrows as several key Harambee Stars players from Gor Mahia were rushed back into action.
Defenders Sylvester Owino and Mike Kibwage were thrust into the starting lineup, having featured prominently in Kenya’s 5-0 thrashing of Seychelles just a day prior.
Equally, midfielders Alpha Onyango and Lewis Bandi, who also had national team commitments, were named on the bench.
Took its toll
The lack of adequate rest for these players appeared to take its toll, as Gor Mahia’s defense looked disorganized, with Simba’s attackers, including the prolific Mukwala, exploiting the gaps with ease.
It’s a risk Gor Mahia’s coach, Charles Akonnor, took, but it seemingly cost K’Ogallo their defensive solidity against a well-rested and motivated Simba side, who equally enjoyed a massive home support.
The friendly match also served as a backdrop for the fiery online rivalry between Kenyan and Tanzanian football fans, which spilled over after the two countries were eliminated from the recent African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament.
While a section of netizens blamed the exhaustion from the Seychelles match for the lacklustre performance, the Tanzanian base seemed to relish in the excitement of having to beat the Kenyan side.