AFC Leopards winger Cliffton Miheso vouched for the team’s ability to cope with the demands of the much anticipated Mashemeji Derby this Sunday, March 30 2025.

Speaking to Azam sports this Wednesday, March 26, 2025, Miheso dismissed the notion that the match-up will be any different as he backed his teammates to rise to the occasion.

Leopards is set to host Gor Mahia in the 96th meeting between the two most followed clubs in the history of Kenyan football.

The two sides are currently separated by four points on the log, with the closeness in points set to add a fresh spice to the encounter as the fight for the derby bragging rights takes centre stage.

Miheso who ranks among the team’s leadership figures, expressed confidence of getting a performance out of the clash.

“The team spirit is high. We know there is pressure on the part of our fans, but we will be ready to take it up and deal with it as players. It is our responsibility. All of Leopard’s games are usually pressure-laden games, and we just have to rise to it and try our best to perform in such conditions,” he said.

The winger’s sentiments were echoed by Leopards vice skipper Victor Omune, who has admitted to the demanding nature of the derby ties.

“The derby comes with its own levels of pressure. It is not a normal game like the rest and needs a different approach in some aspect of its own. It is, however, a very important fixture in this country, and we look forward to it,” Omune said.

Derby Statistics

Heading to the clash, Leopards will be eager to make a case in the derby and put an end to a spate of winless runs against Gor Mahia.

In the previous meeting pitting the two, Ingwe has managed only a single win in the past three seasons of the KPL league. The team’s last win came in May 2023 in a 2-1 win.

The result came after a barren draw in the first-leg meeting.

Before the 2023 season, Leopards slumped to a 1-0 defeat before recording a 1-1 draw in the return leg of the 2022 season.

Gor Mahia asserted their dominance in the 2024 season winning both ties of the clash with a 2-0 and 1-0 scoreline.