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Double setback for Gor Mahia as players lose valuables and Bandari deny them advantage over AFC Leopards
19th April, 2026 06:44 PM
Gor Mahia endured an afternoon to forget on Sunday, April 19, 2026, as the league leaders failed to beat Bandari FC and also had players and staff lose valuables in a dressing room burglary incident during the intermission at Kasarani Stadium.
Gor approached the clash hoping to build on their lead at the top but failed to secure a victory for the third consecutive league match, with the 0-0 stalemate leaving their title charge in significant jeopardy.
Troubles on and off the pitch
Charles Akonnor’s charges struggled to break down the visiting Dockers. This third straight game without a goal has brought their title credentials under sharp scrutiny, following a draw against Kariobangi Sharks and a defeat to Tusker FC in their previous outings.
The match was overshadowed by a suspected robbery targeting the playing and coaching staff. An unidentified person reportedly sneaked into the dressing room while the match was underway, making off with phones and other valuable items.
Theft in the dressing room
“An unfortunate incident happened during the first half… thieves broke into the dressing room, stealing phones and valuables belonging to our players and technical staff,” the club confirmed in a statement.
Frustrating afternoon
The off-pitch incident appeared to weigh on the team, as K’Ogalo struggled to replicate their usual dominance.
Late in the opening half, Jackson Dwang had a chance to put the leaders in front, but his effort whistled narrowly wide of the Bandari goal.
The Green Army faithful had their hopes for a late winner further curtailed when the centre referee rescinded a decision to award the home side a penalty in the closing stages.
The final, tense moments saw players from both sides square up to each other and the referee following a controversial penalty incident.
The chaos erupted after Shariff Musa was fouled inside the box, sparking a heated confrontation as the referee faced intense pressure from both sets of players before ultimately rescinding the decision.
The official decision to further play only a portion of the added time got the game off to a bitter ending, with the home side fans bearing the brunt of the outcome.
Title Race tightens
The result adds another twist to a weekend of high drama in the title race. On Saturday, AFC Leopards missed a massive opportunity to capitalise on Gor Mahia’s poor form, suffering a humiliating 3-0 defeat to the reigning champions, Kenya Police.
A surreal first half saw the law enforcers storm to a comfortable three-goal lead, dealing a heavy blow to Fred Ambani’s side.
Despite their recent slump, the point earned at Kasarani leaves Gor Mahia with a three-point cushion at the top of the table following what was a difficult and distracting outing for the title contenders.
