The much anticipated Mashemeji Derby pitting AFC Leopards SC and their rival Gor Mahia FC in the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League has been postponed.

The match was set to be played on Sunday, November 24, 2024, at 4:00 pm, at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi.

AFC Leopards in a statement issued on Thursday, November 21, 2024, stated that the derby had been postponed to a later date that will be announced.

“We regret to inform you that the much anticipated FKF PL match – AFC Leopards SC vs Gor Mahia FC – #MashemejiDerby earlier scheduled to be played on Sunday, 24th November 2024, 1600Hrs at Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi has been postponed to a later date,” AFC Leopards stated.

The Tomas Trucha-led side further stated that the Mashemeji Derby has been postponed as a result of the unavailability of the match venue which is undergoing renovations in preparation for the upcoming CHAN 2024 Competition.

“This is due to the unavailability of the match venue, which is undergoing renovations in preparation for the upcoming CHAN 2024 Competition. We shall communicate the rescheduled dates in due course,” the statement read.

𝐂𝐋𝐔𝐁 𝐔𝐏𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄

We regret to inform you that the much anticipated FKF PL match – AFC Leopards SC vs Gor Mahia FC – #MashemejiDerby earlier scheduled to be played on Sunday, 24th November 2024, 1600Hrs at Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi has been postponed to a later date. pic.twitter.com/jOt4aQATEV

— AFC Leopards SC (@AFCLeopards) November 21, 2024

Sports Kenya on Mashemeji Derby

Sports Kenya did not authorise the use of the Nyayo National Stadium due to the ongoing renovations.

Leopards, the home team for the tie, had earmarked the 35,000-capacity stadium, with earlier reports have indicated that they were facing a race against time to secure an alternative.

One of the venues that had been suggested was the Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in Mamboleo, Kisumu but that was flatly rejected by Ingwe who do not want to host the derby in a hostile territory from where their opponents draw the bulk of their fans.

Apart from Nyayo Stadium, the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani is also under renovations ahead of CHAN.

Murkomen on CHAN readiness

Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has since given his reassurance in Kenya’s capability to host CHAN in 2025 and the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2027.

Murkomen in a statement shared via his official X account on Monday, November 18, 2024, said that the government is leaving no stone unturned in preparing the country to host the upcoming events.

“The government is leaving no stone unturned in preparing Kenya to host the African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2025 and the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027,” Murkomen assured.