For the second time this season, the much-anticipated Mashemeji Derby between AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia has been postponed due to the lack of a suitable venue.
CityMirror can now confirm that Sunday’s fixture, initially set for Nyayo Stadium, will not take place as planned following unsuccessful efforts by AFC Leopards to secure approval for the stadium’s use.
Hopes were high on Wednesday, February 26, that AFC Leopards, through club chairman Dan Shikanda, would secure a positive response from the government regarding Nyayo Stadium’s availability. However, discussions reached a deadlock as the facility remains under renovation in preparation for the upcoming African Nations Championship (CHAN) in August.
The postponement marks the second time this season that the derby has been pushed forward, following a similar delay in November 2024 due to venue constraints.
In what has been a week of uncertainty, AFC Leopards had earlier announced that the match would be held at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani. This decision, made on Tuesday, February 25, contradicted an earlier statement from the club on February 18, which had placed the fixture at Nyayo Stadium.
As match day approached, negotiations involving AFC Leopards, Sports Kenya, and the CHAN Local Organizing Committee (LOC) broke down, leaving the game without a confirmed venue.
Shikanda expressed frustration, suggesting that FKF should explore hosting the match outside the country.
“FKF should consider organizing for us to play in Tanzania or Uganda, where Harambee Stars have previously staged matches,” Shikanda stated.
On his part, Gor Mahia CEO Raymond Oruo emphasized the urgency of finding a resolution.
“The second leg is almost here, and we cannot keep postponing this game,” Oruo said. “My call is for the clubs to come up with reasonable solutions so that the match can be played. We cannot wait until CHAN is over to hold the derby because the timelines do not allow for that.”
With no clear alternative venue in sight, it remains unclear when or if the first leg of this historic fixture will be played this season. Both clubs, which have been rivals for decades, continue to struggle with a lack of adequate facilities—an issue that threatens to erode part of their identity in Kenyan football.
