New date announced for postponed Mashemeji Derby

By , February 19, 2025

The new date for the much anticipated Mashemeji derby pitting rivals Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards has been confirmed.

The iconic tie will be held on Sunday, March 2, 2025, at the Nyayo National Stadium.

The clash was initially scheduled to be played in November of 2024 before it was called off.

96th meeting

AFC Leopards will be the home team for the first-leg tie before travelling to Gor Mahia for the second-leg encounter in April.

The first leg meeting will be the 96th meeting between the two most followed clubs in the history of Kenyan football.

Gor and Leopards are currently separated by only two points, sitting at third and fourth positions respectively on the pile. The closeness in points is expected to add fresh spice to the encounter as the fight for the derby bragging rights takes centre stage.

Signings

Both teams have been busy bolstering their ranks ahead of the league’s second-leg engagements.

Gor Mahia, who confirmed four departures at the start of the season, enlisted the services of Bbaale Charles and Ben Stanley Omondi.

Leopards have also splashed the cash with a couple of players joining their lair.

Keeper James Ssetuba and Frederick Alushula are among the new entrants at Ingwe.

Ssetuba joins after a stint with Kakamega Homeboyz. The keeper agreed a two-year contract with the 2017 FKF Cup winners.

“James Ssetuba joins the competitive department of goalkeepers of Opiyo, Humprey Katasi and Musha. He will wear shirt number 28 and has already linked up with the rest of his teammates at our training base. Everyone at AFC Leopards welcomes James Ssetuba to the club.” Leopard’s statement on the new club read.

On his part, Alushula joins the den after ditching Kariobangi Sharks midway through the season.

The versatile who recently earned his call-up to the national team can play both as full-back and right-back.

Statistics

Leopards will be eager to make a case in the derby buoyed by their home fans.

 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 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.

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