Ruto, Raila Grace Mashemeji Derby As AFC Beat Gor Mahia for the First Time in 7 Years

• AFC Leopards delivered a sucker punch to Gor Mahia's title hopes on May 14
• Leopards beat their bitter rivals 2-1 to get their first league win in seven years
• The match was attended by President William Ruto, among other dignitaries

President William Ruto, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba were among the high-level dignitaries who graced the 96th Mashemeji derby at Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The biggest game in Kenyan football came hot on the heels of the Kip Keino Classic, where Africa's fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, headlined the World Athletics event on Saturday at the Kasarani Stadium.

First-half goals from Victor Omune and Maxwell Otieno were enough for AFC Leopards to record their first league victory over their sworn rivals for the first time in over seven years.

Gor Mahia, who are bidding for a 20th Kenya Premier League title, settled quickly into the game, but Austin Odhiambo failed to connect well with his skipper Philemon Otieno's cross.

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How Mashemeji derby played out

K'Ogalo then got two corners in quick succession, with Ugandan import Peter Lwassa coming close to opening the scoring. Lwassa then spurned a great chance on goal, drawing a top-notch save from Lewis Opiyo in the Leopards' goal after 23 minutes.

Barely a minute later, Gor Mahia had a golden opportunity to draw first blood when Lwassa was fouled in the area by Opiyo, with centre referee Badir Yassin pointing to the spot and booking Opiyo.

The league's top scorer Benson Omalla sent Opiyo the wrong way but agonizingly saw his effort miss the bottom corner and roll out of play.

On the half-hour mark, Ingwe got a penalty of their own after Sylvester Owino hauled down an opponent. Harambee Stars international Victor Omune stepped up to put the ball behind Gad Mathews as the blue corner erupted.

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Seven minutes from the break, Odhiambo made amends for the chances he had spurned earlier. Leopards' defence remained motionless as Dennis Ng'ang'a swung in a corner which Odhiambo headed into the back of the net.

1-1.

Odhiambo, who is among the few players who have played for both clubs, got yet another goal against his former employers.

With many expecting the game to head into the break all square, Leopards skipper Euegene Mukangula found an unmarked Maxwell Otieno from a corner who headed in his effort to give Patrick Aussems charges the lead.

Ingwe stood form in the second half, with Gor Mahia failing to bury the half chances they got. Omalla rounded the Leopards' defence but his ball through to substitute Patrick Kaddu was intercepted.

On the other end, Jaffari Owiti failed to bring down a brilliant lob over the defence to allow Mathews to collect the ball easily.

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This is the first time AFC Leopards have beaten Gor Mahia in a league game since March 2016, when a solo Lamine Diallo strike was the difference then.

The result sees John McKinstry's men drop to second on the table behind defending champions Tusker, who beat Kariobangi Sharks 1-0 on Saturday. Tusker are on 64 points, one point ahead of Gor Mahia, with only four games left to play.

Olunga wins big in Qatar

Further abroad, Sports Brief reported that Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga is finally a league champion in Qatar!

Olunga helped his Al Duhail side to the 2022/2023 league title by scoring four times on the final day against Shamal on May 8.

Heading into the last day of the campaign, Al Duhail needed a win to secure the title or a draw and other results going their way to win an eighth title. They won 5-2.