AFC Leopards v Gor Mahia: Key players and battles

Football lovers will this afternoon be served with a rich dish of the beautiful game as Kenyan giants AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia lock horns at the Nyayo National Stadium.

Here, Sunday Nation Sport takes a peek at the key players and their battles.

Wycliffe Kasaya v Boniface Oluoch

His flamboyance and tantrums aside, Kasaya is by all standards one of the best in the business. Kasaya’s strengths lies in his command of the danger area and his super reflexes.

Oluoch has looked calm and assured between the sticks for Gor thus far this season. His timely reflexes and decision making are spot on.

Jackson Saleh v Meddie Kagere

Saleh’s stock has risen at the den. He is not only one of the influential voices in the locker room going by the fact that he holds the arm band but also one of the first names in the team sheet. He is tight marker and strong in the air.

In Kagere, he will face a most stern test. The Rwanda international is not only gifted with a football brain, electrifying pace but is also hard to rob off the ball especially when in the danger area. His elegance and knack will be key to Gor’s quest for glory.

Musa Mudde v Khalid Aucho

While Mudde sits at the base of midfield to offer protection to the back four, his fellow countryman is more of a magician and playing alongside Collins Okoth will give Aucho, the license to roam forward and take on his compatriot head on.

Bernard Mangoli v Collins “Gattuso” Okoth

Mangoli could well be an equivalent of Barcelona’s pass master Xavi Hernandez. He ticks, clicks ad taps those passes.

In indefatigable Okoth, he has a marker who is a no nonsense ball winner .He tackles hard and gives no room for loose balls. This is a key midfield battle worth looking out for at Nyayo today.

Emmanuel Ngama v Abouba Sibomana

With two league goals under his belt, Ngama is one of the most prized attack weapon at Leopards. He loves to alternate the wings but naturally should operate on the far left where Abouba Sibomana, Gor’s January signing from Rayon Sports will have his work cut out for them. Sibomana is not only good in defending but dangerous going forward. Looks like an intriguing fight here.