Gor Mahia head coach Charles Akonnor did not hide his disappointment after watching his side fall 0-1 to AFC Leopards in the 98th Mashemeji Derby held at Nyayo Stadium.
The Ghanaian tactician openly questioned the commitment and fight within his squad, describing the performance as far below the standards expected in one of the most emotionally charged fixtures in Kenyan football.
AFC Leopards secured all three points courtesy of Julius Masaba’s quick reaction in the 24th minute. The winger capitalized on a loose ball after Gor Mahia goalkeeper Byrne Omondi parried Tyson Otieno’s effort straight into his path.
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Masaba made no mistake, firing home the only goal of the match and ultimately handing Ingwe a milestone victory in the SportPesa League clash.
The win was significant for AFC Leopards as it marked their first derby triumph under the leadership of the Ambani brothers – Bonface Ambani, who serves as the club chairman and head coach Fred Ambani.
It also added to Leopards’ derby tally, taking them to 29 wins against Gor Mahia’s 33, while 36 meetings have ended in stalemates across the 98 Mashemeji Derby clashes.
However, for Akonnor, the loss highlighted deeper issues within his team.
Speaking after the match, he lamented Gor Mahia’s lack of intensity and desire, insisting that AFC Leopards showed greater hunger from the first whistle.
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Gor Mahia boss Akonnor questions player commitment
“The opponents were more aggressive than us. They won the majority of the second balls, they were determined and you could see the urgency in the way they played.
Games like this demand commitment and we were not committed enough. We did not fight hard enough to win this game,” Akonnor said.
Akonnor admitted that his side failed to match AFC Leopards’ physicality and work rate, adding that Gor Mahia were second-best in almost every aspect of the derby.
According to him, even basic reactions to fouls and contested plays lacked the sharpness expected from a team chasing honours.
“From the onset, they were winning the balls, counter-pressing and bullying us in the game. It was up to us to react, but we did not.
Even in situations where we needed to show character or protest a foul, the players were too passive. I am very disappointed with the way we played today,” he added.
Despite Gor Mahia still being ahead of AFC Leopards on the SportPesa league standings, the derby win cut the gap to just two points. Akonnor conceded that the Leopards fully deserved their victory.
“We are ahead of them on the table, but today they played better than us. They were more aggressive, they wanted it more, and congratulations to them,” he concluded.
The defeat leaves Gor Mahia with questions to answer as they look to regroup ahead of their away fixture against Bandari FC and reignite their title charge.
AFC Leopards will draw confidence from a spirited performance that reignites belief within their camp going into their weekend clash against Police FC.