Bitter foes Gor Mahia, AFC Leopards face off

AFC Leopards' fans dance in Nairobi on March 6, 2016 before their SportPesa Premier League match against Gor Mahia at Safaricom Stadium. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL |

What you need to know:

  • The rivalry between the two league giants has all ingredients for a classic encounter; a shared home ground, a long list of traitors and heroes to play for both teams and a rich history of season-defining clashes. Sunday's clash should be no different.
  • Leopards, who won the first leg encounter 1-0, will be out to end Gor’s fading hopes of retaining the KPL title for the fourth straight season.
  • For the last four decades, the pride has been mostly bestowed upon Leopards. In their last 81 meetings, they have tasted defeat 23 times, winning 28 and drawing 30.

Kenyan Premier League giants AFC Leopards renew rivalry with bitter foes Gor Mahia on Sunday in the Mashemeji Derby at Nyayo National Stadium.

The rivalry between the two league giants has all ingredients for a classic encounter; a shared home ground, a long list of traitors and heroes to play for both teams and a rich history of season-defining clashes. Sunday's clash should be no different.

For the last four decades, the pride has been mostly bestowed upon Leopards. In their last 81 meetings, they have tasted defeat 23 times, winning 28 and drawing 30.

Though both teams have struggled all season, there would still be a lot at stake at Nyayo.

The two clubs will lock horns for the second and final time this season from 3pm.

Leopards, who won the first leg encounter 1-0, will be out to end Gor’s fading hopes of retaining the KPL title for the fourth straight season.

The big cats will be motivated to keep the bragging rights after completing a double over their nemesis following their 1-0 victory in the first leg clash.
Striker Lamine Diallo, who has since joined Ushuru, struck to gift Ingwe the sweet victory in March at the Safaricom Stadium Kasarani.

Humiliating Gor by repeating this feat will, therefore, be a huge win for Ingwe, and caretaker coach Ezekiel Akwana has said that he was not anxious about this match.

“This is the biggest match of the season but I have handled such big games. I am calm,” said Akwana.

“We shall have home advantage but still we shall work hard because only the team whose players come well prepared will win.”

His Gor Mahia counterpart Jose Marcelo Ferreira has opted to remain silent ahead of the high stakes clash that could define their season.

The under-fire Brazilian tactician is still reeling from the shock of losing the KPL Top 8 title last weekend to Muhoroni Youth.

Gor have not won their last three matches but defender Musa Mohammed has said they are not giving up on the title pursuit.

“People have written us off but we have not given up. We shall keep fighting until the very last day of the season,” Mohammed said.

Gor are six points behind leaders Tusker with four matches to the end of the season.

In the other league games this weekend, Tusker, fresh from winning the GOtv Shield on Thursday, will face relegation-threatened Nairobi City Stars at the Afraha Stadium in Nakuru on Sunday while Ulinzi Stars will face Western Stima away in Kisumu.

WEEKEND FIXTURES

Saturday

Mathare United v Bandari (Nyayo Stadium, 2pm)

Kakamega Homeboyz v Sony Sugar (Mumias Complex, 3pm)

Western Stima v Ulinzi Stars (Moi Stadium, 3pm)

Sunday

Tusker v City Stars (Afraha Stadium, 3pm)

Thika United v Ushuru, (Thika Stadium, 3pm)

Chemelil Sugar v Posta Rangers (Chemelil Stadium, 3pm)

AFC Leopards v Gor Mahia (Nyayo Stadium, 3pm)