Gor Mahia will host AFC Leopards in the 98th Mashemeji Derby this Sunday, 7 December 2025, at Nyayo Stadium from 3 PM.
The fixture remains the biggest match in the SportPesa League and one of the fiercest rivalries on the African continent.
The tension is so deep that any player moving from one club to the other is viewed as committing “treason” by sections of the fanbase but that has never stopped some footballers from crossing this ‘taboo’ line in pursuit of their careers.
As the derby approaches, SportPesa Blog looks at some of the most recent players to feature for both sides, as well as others who set the trend long before.
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Lewis Essambe Bandi
Lewis Bandi became one of the latest players to join AFC Leopards’ bitter rivals after an impressive CHAN 2024 campaign. Contract talks with Ingwe collapsed, allowing Gor Mahia to swoop in.
The left back who can also play as a defensive midfielder or right back signed a two-year deal with Gor Mahia on 12th August 2025 after a standout season in which he was voted AFC Leopards’ Most Valuable Player.
The 23-year-old Eastleigh High School alumnus joined Leopards’ youth team in 2015, rising through the ranks before loan spells at Hakati Sportiff and eventually breaking into the senior team in 2020.
Bandi is yet to debut for K’Ogalo this season due to injury but is on his way to full recovery.
Austine Odhiambo
The 2023/24 SportPesa League Most Valuable Player also made the high-profile switch from AFC Leopards to Gor Mahia. He joined K’Ogalo on 6th October 2021 a move that transformed his career.
Since then, he has won two league titles and established himself as one of the most influential midfielders in the derby.
Odhiambo graduated from the AFC Leopards youth team in April 2019 under then youth coach Boniface Ambani who is the current Afc Leopards chairman. Ingwe will be watching him closely on Sunday, as he has consistently punished them in recent meetings.
Mike Kibwage
Although not a direct crossover, Kibwage has played for both clubs.
His top-flight journey began at AFC Leopards in 2017 after excelling with the Kakamega Homeboyz U20 side. He played 10 league matches and six FKF Cup fixtures before joining KCB for more playing time.
The Mukumu Boys alumnus later featured for Sofapaka and Tusker, where he spent two and a half seasons, before signing for Gor Mahia in August this year following a solid CHAN campaign.
Humphrey Ochieng’ Mieno
One of the most decorated midfielders in Kenyan football, Mieno has also worn both jerseys.
He featured for AFC Leopards in the 2014–2015 season before joining Tusker and later Gor Mahia between 2017 and 2019.
The evergreen maestro now back at KCB after 15 years has enjoyed trophy-laden spells with Tusker and Sofapaka and remains one of the most technically gifted players in the league.
Clifton Miheso
The former AFC Leopards captain joined Gor Mahia in 2019 and stayed until 2021, famously scoring a crucial penalty against Ingwe in the FKF Cup final.
Before that, he was part of the Thika United squad that denied Gor the league title and later played abroad in South Africa, Zambia, Portugal, and Finland.
Miheso rejoined Leopards in 2023 after a stint with Kenya Police and is currently a free agent linked with a return to Sofapaka.
ALSO READ: Gor Mahia midfielder Enock Morrison eyes taste of first Mashemeji Derby win
Yusuf Mainge
Mainge joined AFC Leopards in 2017 from Green Commandos before making a direct switch to Gor Mahia on 1st October 2021.
He later turned out for Tusker and is currently contracted to defending champions Kenya Police FC, on loan at Nairobi United Kenya’s sole CAF Confederation Cup representatives this season.
Other Notable Crossovers
Ezekiel Odera, Jacob Keli, Jackson Saleh, John Ndirangu, Demonde Selenga, Eric Masika, Wycliffe Kasaya, Peter Opiyo, Collins Okoth, and Timonah Wanyonyi have all featured for both giants.
In the 1990s, several big names also defied the rivalry, including former AFC chairman Dan Shikanda, John ‘Zangi’ Okello, Paul Ochieng’, Deo Odhiambo, Matthew Owino ‘Ottomax’, and Tom Juma.
With the 97th Mashemeji Derby set for Sunday, the history of these daring switches only adds more spice to a rivalry that never disappoints.
