Report from Flashscore
Sworn-rivals AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia served Kenya a with a drab 0-0 Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League Mashemeji derby draw at Nyayo Stadium on Sunday.
In what was billed as the biggest match of the season in the Kenyan top-flight, both sides were not able to find the back of the net, with K'Ogalo the most affected side from the outcome as they failed to close in on the gap between them and leading sides Kenya Police FC and Tusker, on the 18-team league table.
Being the home team, Ingwe coach Fred Ambani opted for an attacking minded starting XI, goalkeeper Levis Opiyo starting between the sticks while the defence line featured regulars Lewis Bandi, Semo Samuel, Randi Bakari and Mousa Oundo.
Youngsters Kaycie Odhiambo led the midfield alongside Boniface Kweyu and ex-Gor Mahia player Ovella Ochieng while Maxwell Otieno supported strikers Kelly Okonji and Beja Hassan.
Meanwhile, for the record champions Gor Mahia, midfielder Austin Odhiambo was handed a bench role despite recovering from an injury. Gad Mathew kept his place between the posts, and was guarded by Alphonse Omija, Geoffrey Ochieng, who was handed the captain's armband after coach Sinisa Mihic surprisingly benched Philemon Otieno, while Joshua Onyango started from the right side.
Lawrence Juma and Morrison Enoch took up the midfield role assisted by winger Alpha Onyango while Musa Sheriff was deployed to assist strikers Paul Ochuoga and Gedeon Bendeka.
Ingwe went into the fixture having won two of their last five league matches, while drawing three. They had beaten Nairobi City Stars 1-0, and Mara Sugar 2-1, and picked draws against Kariobangi Sharks 0-0, Sofapaka 0-0 and Kenya Police FC 0-0.
On the other hand, K’Ogalo had managed three wins from the last five, drawing two. The victories came against Mathare United 2-1, Kariobangi Sharks 3-1 and Bandari 2-0. They had drawn 0-0 against Tusker and 0-0 against Bidco United.
Gor Mahia had dominated the derby in recent years with Ingwe mostly playing catch-up. As per the records heading into the 96th derby, the last six matches had seen Ingwe manage only one win against K’Ogalo.
Last season, it was K’Ogalo who took the bragging rights by sealing a double over their nemesis. In the first-round meeting, Gor Mahia secured a 2-0 win before sealing a 1-0 victory in the second-round meeting on their way to winning a record 21st league title.
In 2023, the two sides battled to a 0-0 draw in the first-round meeting but Ingwe took the honours in the second-round fixture after beating Gor Mahia 2-1 and to end their 10-match winless run against the champions. During the 2021 campaign, Gor Mahia emerged 1-0 winners in the first meeting before the two sides shared the spoils in the reverse fixture.
In the 2019 season, Gor Mahia proved too strong for Ingwe. In the first-round meeting, they hammered Ingwe 3-1 before they sealed a memorable double after thrashing them 4-1 in the second-round fixture.
Slow start to 96th Mashemeji Derby
With both teams having not faced off for a long period, the derby started on a slow pace with both sets of players being cautious with their approach. The first 10 minutes produced no meaningful chance from either side.
Gor Mahia created the best chance of the game in the 14th minute when Musa, who was unmarked at the far post saw his right-footed effort saved by keeper Opiyo. K'Ogalo continued to dominate with ball possession, and it was Ghanaian import Morrison, who squandered another great chance to break the deadlock in the 23rd minute, failing to hit the back of the net with the goal by his mercy.
In the 35th minute, Ingwe finally had their first attack on K'Ogalo's post, and it should have been 1-0 had they executed the opportunity to the maximum.
Semo initiated a lovely solo run on the left wing and he delivered a sumptuous cross which found Ovella Ochieng, but the latter's attempted effort sailed over the bar with keeper Mathews out of his line.
In the closing stages to the half-time break, Ingwe initiated another superb attempt from the middle of play but it was intercepted by Gor Mahia, who in turn forced a quick counter attack but their journey towards goal was stopped by Mousa Oundo, whose reckless tackle from behind, earned him the first yellow card of the game.
The second half just started like the first, a cautious approach from both sides. However, in a bid to freshen up his squad, Ingwe coach Ambani made his first change, Victor Otieno replacing Ovella Ochieng while Ronald Shichenje was brought in for Maxwell Otieno.
Another double substitution from Ambani - Victor Omune and Kevin Kimani coming in for Beja Hassan and Kelly Madada - could not change anything as the derby produced a drab draw in front of a packed Nyayo Stadium.