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Mashemeji Derby: Gor Mahia coach insists they will be ready for Ingwe amid recent league slump
22nd April, 2026 07:31 AM
Gor Mahia FC assistant coach Kobi Bismark has insisted that they are doing their homework well for the upcoming Mashemeji clash against their arch-rivals, AFC Leopards, slated for Sunday, April 26, 2026.
The league leaders visit second-placed AFC Leopards FC at Nyayo National Stadium for what promises to be an encounter of monumental implications to the 2025/26 league race.
The 3:00 pm kick-off clash comes with stakes raised high, with more than bragging rights at stake.
Decisive fixture
With only a three-point gap separating the two, the winner will be assured of a huge title boost heading to the decisive final four games of the season.
Speaking on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, during the team preparation ahead of the clash, the coach revealed that putting aside their struggles has taken precedence in their preparations.
“It is still early days in our preparations, but we are focused on improving on several areas such as our tactical approach,” he stated.
The trainer also admitted to concerns about the team’s recent form.
K’Ogalo heads into the clash seeking to snap a spate of poor runs where the club remains winless in the last three games.
More concerning, Charles Akonnor has not scored a goal in open play for two successive league outings, with the distracting and difficult barren draw at home to Bandari on Sunday, April 19, 2026, not only compounding but also leaving their title charge in significant jeopardy.
“We head into it having not scored for the last three games. Of course, it is a big worry, but we are preparing for the game. It is a difficult game and a big one as well. We have studied AFC, and we know their strengths and weaknesses and will be ready for them,” he explained.
High-stakes meeting
The encounter will be the 99th Mashemeji meeting, pitting the two bitter rivals, ranking as more than just a duel between perennial rivals. It serves as a potential league decider, a ‘winner-takes-all’ matchup where the momentum of the title race is firmly up for grabs.
Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards are locked in a fierce two-horse race for the 2026 title.
This marks the first time in nearly two decades that Kenya’s two most decorated clubs have faced off while both occupy the top of the table this late in the season.
