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Celebrity moments and epic scenes from 99th Mashemeji Derby
27th April, 2026 12:30 PM
The 99th Mashemeji Derby went down on Sunday, April 26, 2026, with fans painting the town green and blue in an unforgettable evening of football action.
K24 Digital Sports captured the celebrities and the electric atmosphere you might have missed from the highly charged clash between Kenya’s arch-rivals, AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia, at the Nyayo National Stadium.
Despite Gor Mahia claiming Ingwe’s scalp to inch closer to the league title, football was the ultimate winner as fans turned out in record numbers. Unknown to many, several football stars and celebrities joined the Green Army and Ingwe fanbase to savour the irresistible derby atmosphere.
Coaster Ojwang’s moment
Coaster Ojwang, the famed hitmaker behind Jowi, was spotted among the fans on the green side of the stands. Donned in his favorite Gor Mahia jersey, Ojwang was pictured interacting coolly with fans. At one point, he was heard shouting, ‘Shemeji ni mboga‘, a cheeky reference to Gor Mahia’s continued dominance over their rivals.
The Luo music composer capped off the evening by joining the K’Ogalo faithful in song and dance to celebrate the victory.
Also in attendance was former Ingwe stalwart Martin Imbalambala. The former defensive powerhouse and AFC Leopards captain was seen soaking in the game, a nostalgic sight for many fans of the “Blue” side.
Morrison rubbing it in
While much of the post-match talk has centered on officiating, Gor Mahia’s Enoch Morrison was a central figure on the pitch. In a manner likely to get under the skin of the Leopards’ fanbase, the Ghanaian midfielder was seen savouring the victory with high intensity.
As if he had something to prove, Morrison’s spirited interaction with the fans showed just how much the derby win meant to the squad.
Akonnor and Gor’s victory lap
The win against AFC Leopards ranks as Gor Mahia’s most crucial result in their quest for the league title. Following the final whistle, Gor Mahia head coach Charles Akonnor led a victory lap around Nyayo Stadium.
Flanked by team stewards, the Ghanaian tactician and his assistants soaked in the moment, applauding the K’Ogalo faithful. It was a stark contrast to his expression during the match.
Akonnor had remained remarkably nonchalant even after Alpha Onyango’s late clincher. However, once the whistle blew, he let his emotions flow, charging toward the stands to celebrate a result that kept their title charge firmly on track, perhaps a fitting way to get your title race back on track and revenge for his first leg.
The derby aftermath
Indeed, games as fiercely contested as the Mashemeji Derby rarely end on the pitch.
In the wake of the defeat, the banter has intensified, with AFC Leopards bearing the brunt of the trolls and jokes. This was fueled, in part, by the bold and outrageous pre-match predictions made by a section of the Ingwe fanbase and players.
On Monday, April 27, 2026, Gor Mahia moved to rub salt in the wound by resurfacing previous quotes and highlights.
In a cheeky social media update, the club urged its supporters to share the video of Alpha Onyango’s winning goal with their rivals’ fans, just in case they had “forgotten” the outcome of the match.
