- Gor Mahia vs AFC Leopards: Mashemeji Derby will be the first staged under the return of the leading online gaming firm SportPesa, the main sponsor of the league.
- The Mashemeji Derby will be played on Sunday, December 6, 2025, at the Nyayo National Stadium.
- Kick-off is set for 3:00 PM EAT.
Gor Mahia host AFC Leopards in what will be the first leg of the highly colossal and eagerly anticipated Mashemeji Derby in the new era of Kenyan football under the leading online gaming firm SportPesa, the main sponsor of the league.
The two giants in the SportPesa League are set to meet for the 98th time in history, with the clash scheduled for the Nyayo National Stadium, on Sunday afternoon from 3 pm EAT.
Originally slated for Saturday, November 29, the fixture was postponed due to a lack of a suitable venue, leaving both sides in a prolonged training rhythm for the past fortnight.
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Gor Mahia vs AFC Leopards: Mashemeji Derby 2025 preview
Record Kenyan champions Gor Mahia will enter this match determined to secure a victory and recover from a frustrating 4–1 defeat at the same venue two weeks ago, delivered by newcomers APS Bomet- one of their heaviest losses in over a decade.
Charles Akonnor shouldered the blame for that result, having opted to rest most of his core starting lineup in that match due to fatigue following a congested November schedule, despite the team having been on a seven-match unbeaten run before that fate.
That subsequent loss, their second of the season, initially left them in first place. However, the reigning champions Kenya Police FC leapfrogged them on Saturday with a 1–0 win over Kariobangi Sharks, moving to 20 points and pushing Gor to second with 19.
Moreover, home turf has not been where the heart of K’Ogalo has resided strongly this season.
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They enter this home match with just two wins and a draw from five hosted fixtures this campaign, having suffered two defeats, including that heavy loss.
Now, their seventh win of the season is on the line in one of the league’s most unpredictable fixtures, as they face an AFC Leopards side also seeking to return to winning ways.
Ingwe, for their part, have experienced mixed results this season. After three consecutive draws at the start, they strung together three successive victories that brought them into title contention, only to falter in their most recent three outings with two draws and a loss.
Fred Ambani attributed these November results to ‘internal pressure’ within the club and stated they are keen to make amends on Sunday, targeting three points to climb from their mid-table seventh position, where they currently hold 14 points after nine games.
Like Gor, Ingwe’s away form has been underwhelming. In four matches on the road, they have managed only five points from two draws and a win, suffering one defeat.
Their most recent outing was a 1–1 draw with bottom-placed Kariobangi Sharks.
Gor Mahia vs AFC Leopards: Mashemeji Derby team news
Ambani, who has often boasted of never losing a Mashemeji Derby, will oversee his first as head coach.
He told the press on Thursday that November’s struggles were due to hiccups and injuries, but he hopes to start the new month positively.
We began the season slowly, then hit a good stride before injuries and some internal setup disruptions unsettled us. But I believe all last month’s troubles are behind us, and we’re starting afresh,” he explained.
While declining to name the injured or absent players, he affirmed the squad is ready and under no undue pressure despite the rivalry.
The boys are prepared and know what’s required. To me, this is as normal as any other match. When I played, the focus was always on the three points the rivalry is for the fans, but for us, it’s a normal game,” he added.
Meanwhile, Charles Akonnor, also overseeing his first Mashemeji derby, stated his side is ready and prepared, mentioning only minor injuries that will not significantly impact their plans, with nearly all players fit for the clash.
We will cope with the rivalry. I’m aware of it, and we have a plan to execute. We had one setback, learned from our mistakes, rectified them, and are truly ready and well-prepared for a positive result,” Akonnor stated on Friday.
We have a number of players who are okay and ready to deliver on Sunday,” he added.
Gor Mahia vs AFC Leopards: Mashemeji Derby stats and betting tips
These sides have met 97 times in league action since 1968. Record champions Gor Mahia hold the advantage with 34 victories, AFC Leopards have 28 wins, and 35 matches have ended in draws.
In their last 10 meetings, Gor Mahia have claimed four wins, Ingwe celebrated only one triumph in 2023, while the remainder have been stalemates.
Only three of those recent ten matches have ended goalless, with most also producing under 2.5 goals.
Just five of the 97 encounters have seen at least five goals: AFC Leopards won 5–1 in 1975, edged a 3–2 victory in 1986, Gor Mahia won by the same scoreline in 2003, and Gor pummeled Ingwe 4–1 in 2019.
The Mashemeji Derby has witnessed a total of 173 goals across its 97 games. Gor Mahia holds the scoring edge with 92, while AFC Leopards have netted 81 to date.
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Gor Mahia have scored 13 goals this season- the second-best after Kakamega Homeboyz’s (14) while conceding only six, demonstrating a solid backline that has kept six clean sheets.
Ingwe, while conceding only eight goals, have been blunt in attack, scoring just 10 times so far.
Therefore, although Gor Mahia enter as favorites, the derby has no true winner until the final whistle. A packed Nyayo Stadium can expect a thrilling encounter on Sunday afternoon.
Mashemeji Derby 2025: Gor Mahia vs AFC Leopards (1st Leg) Tickets
Tickets are being sold online, exclusively via the digital platform langopass.com.
Regular tickets cost KES 300, VIP KES 1,000, and VVIP KES 5,000.
Supporters can also access the purchase portal by dialing the USSD code *265*25# on their mobile phones, ensuring a convenient and swift ticketing process for fans across the country.