Gor Mahia will be aiming for a point from AFC Leopards to help secure their 17th league title on Saturday.
K’Ogalo has a healthy goal difference of forty-one, and even if they lose the remaining six matches after getting a point on Saturday, the closest rivals will struggle to surpass the goal difference.
AFC Leopards started the season well but lost it somewhere along the way but the coming in of coach Rodolfo Zapata has revived the former champions.
Currently placed in the third position with forty-eight points, the highest position Ingwe can finish is second, but they have to overcome stiff competition from the likes of Bandari and Sofapaka.
Since losing to Gor Mahia 2-1 in the first leg, AFC Leopards have managed to string a winning run of five matches in all competitions.
Ingwe beat Mwatate FC 2-1 in FKF Shield Cup, then started a good run in the league with a 1-0 win over Vihiga United, beat Mathare United 2-1, floored Nakumatt FC 4-2 and managed a 2-0 away win against Thika United.
Saturday's Mashemeji Derby will be the 84th league meeting between AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia. Ingwe have won 27 times and K'Ogalo have 25 wins.
| Game | Gor Mahia vs AFC Leopards |
| Date | Saturday, August 25 |
| Time | 4:00pm Kenyan Time |
TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch
In Kenya, the game will be shown live on K-24, a free to air Kenyan Television Channel.
| DSTV channel | Free-to-air channel |
|---|---|
| NONE | K24 |
Squads & Team News
| Position | Missing players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Boniface Oluoch |
| Striker | Ephraim Guikan |
Goal understands keeper Boniface Oluoch and Ivorian striker Ephraim Guikan have resumed light training sessions after recovering from injuries but will not be risked for the derby.
Coach Dylan Kerr is expected to name, in his starting line-up, the majority of the players, who turned out for the team in a 3-0 win against Sofapaka.
Probable Gor Mahia XI: Odhoji, Nizigiyimana, Onguso, Shakava, Onyango, Juma, Okeyo, Kahata, Onyango, Tuyisenge and Mustapha.
| Position | Missing player |
|---|---|
| Striker | Ezekiel Odera |
AFC Leopards will miss up to seven key players for the derby, that is almost 70% of the first eleven. Apart from the 'long term' absentees, Marvin Omondi and Jaffari Owiti, the suspension of Ezekiel Odera, who has accumulated five yellow cards and a red card, means Ingwe will be lighter in attack.
Others players, who will miss the derby include Robinson Kamura, Salim 'Shittu' Abdallah, Dennis Sikhayi and Moses Mburu.
Probable AFC Leopards XI: Owade, Oruchum, Oduro, Otieno, Kibwage, Majid, Seda, Isuza, Marita, Orotomal and Oburu.
Match Preview
Goals from Jacques Tuyisenge and George ‘Blackberry’ Odhiambo reduced Whyvonne Isuza's spectacular strike to a mere consolation when the two sides met in the first leg.
As a matter of fact, the last time AFC Leopards won against Gor Mahia was way back in 2016, by a solitary goal, and since then, they have struggled to overcome their rivals.
Despite playing seven matches in the space of twenty-two days, Gor Mahia will be aiming at getting a result that will see them successfully defend their title with seven games to spare.
