- AFC Leopards vs Gor Mahia: the 99th edition of the Mashemeji Derby is set for Sunday, April 26, 2026.
- The match will be staged at Nyayo National Stadium from 3pm EAT.
- The two sides are locked at the top of the table, with just three points separating them in the SportPesa League title race.
A blockbuster encounter awaits on Sunday as two arch rivals, AFC Leopards, will play host to Gor Mahia in the 99th edition of the Mashemeji Derby from 3pm EAT at the Nyayo National Stadium.
These are two heavyweights locked in the Sportpesa League 25/26 title chase this season, and the outcome on Sunday evening will heavily shape how things unfold, with the league nearly going down to the wire.
Ingwe, the home side, come into this clash sitting second on the log with 55 points and that is just after they squandered a chance to go top or joint level last weekend, when they were handed a heavy 3-0 defeat at the hands of the defending champions, Kenya Police FC.
AFC Leopards vs Gor Mahia preview
That loss was only their second at home this season, and they will be eager to shake that off their list and grab a 10th home victory.
The possible three points would put Fred Ambani’s side level on points with Gor Mahia, though Gor would still have the superior goal difference.
As for K’Ogalo, they enter this fixture seeking nothing less than redemption. Last weekend, they also slipped up when they could have taken advantage of Ingwe’s stumble, instead being held to a goalless draw at Kasarani Stadium by Bandari FC.
However, that single point pushed them three points clear although, are yet to win in their last three outings, having been held scoreless by Kariobangi Sharks, then suffering a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Tusker FC, before the dockers again denied them maximum points at home.
Speaking ahead of the clash, Gor Mahia head coach Charles Akonnor believes they are well prepared and have done their homework the right way. He says they will push harder to score and ensure they pin AFC Leopards in their own half.
“We have trained very well for the match, and so far it has been good. The technical team is content with how the players have reacted, and we are looking forward to the match,” Akonnor said during the pre-match press conference.
“This is not about revenge for us. We’ve seen them pay several times. For us, it’s about how we approach the game. We’ve given the players a lot of information that has been processed in training.
The fact we haven’t scored in three matches is not a big issue because we’ve created plenty of chances in those games and have been unlucky. So our focus will be on making those chances count.”
Meanwhile, Ambani believes the Kenya Police defeat was a wake-up call. He knows the boys have prepared well coming into this clash and hopes for the win to level the points.
“We know the magnitude of the game. We know the three points will do us a lot of good because we’ve seen the difference in points. A win will make the league more entertaining and more competitive.
The Derby has come at the right time because after they lost last time, they have been keen in training sessions, and thus I believe tomorrow people will see what they’ve accomplished,” Ambani said.
These sides have met 98 times in league action since 1968. Record champions Gor Mahia hold the edge with 34 victories, while AFC Leopards have secured 29 wins, and 35 encounters have ended in shared spoils.
It was Julius Masaba who made the difference in the reverse fixture, when AFC Leopards stunned Gor 1-0 at Nyayo Stadium back on December 7, 2025.