AFC Leopards boss reveals why Gor Mahia won Mashemeji derby

Kenyan Premier League outfit AFC Leopards chairman Boniface Ambani has blamed poor officiating for the team’s 1-0 FKF Premier League Mashemeji derby defeat against rivals Gor Mahia at Nyayo Stadium on Sunday.

In the 99th derby, Gor Mahia needed a late goal courtesy of captain Alpha Onyango to carry the derby bragging rights and move six points clear ahead of their rivals on the 18-team league table.

𝐅𝐔𝐋𝐋 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄

A #𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐣𝐢𝐃𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐲 defeat at Nyayo Stadium #𝐋𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬𝐕𝐬𝐆𝐨𝐫 | #𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞

𝐀𝐅𝐂 𝐋𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 0️⃣ 𝐆𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐚𝐡𝐢𝐚 1️⃣#𝐈𝐧𝐠𝐰𝐞𝐍𝐚𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐤𝐚 | #𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐣𝐢𝐃𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐲 | #𝐘𝐚𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 pic.twitter.com/1NFWQNXTGs

— AFC Leopards (@AFCLeopards) April 26, 2026

The win enabled Gor Mahia to avenge their first-round defeat, which AFC Leopards had won by a similar margin. Ambani has now hit out at match officials for not doing their work.

FKF doing zero work to improve officiating

“FKF, your only job is fighting over the money coming into the federation from FIFA, CAF, the Government, etc. You are doing nothing else of substance to improve the levels of officiating and football in this country,” Ambani wrote on his social media accounts.

“That is the only thing you are good at… You will call for meetings with all the branches nationwide and spend millions on them, but you will never fix the ‘big monster’ in our football: Poor officiating.”

Ambani added: “The moment your officials have to be escorted from stadiums under tight police security and pelted with bottles, that is when you should understand the state of our football.

“It has been going on for a long time, yet you just sit there. Now, you are busy planning how the AFCON money will come in so you can finish it off.”

He concluded his message with a message to FKF boss Hussein Mohammed: “Hussein and company, fix this menace or just go home, man! I will never mince my words.

“We shall one day fix the menace at that federation… Your committees and discussions are all about who is aligning with whom. Nonsense. Fix this menace or ship out.”

Gor Mahia cemented top spot

The victory left Gor Mahia at the top with 61 points amassed from 18 wins, seven draws, and four defeats, while AFC Leopards remained second with 55 points garnered from 16 wins, seven draws, and six defeats.

Gor Mahia’s last five matches will be against Kakamega Homeboyz, Kenya Police FC, Murang’a Seal, Mara Sugar, and conclude their campaign against Nairobi United.

For AFC Leopards, they will have to play against Ulinzi Stars, Mara Sugar, Kakamega Homeboyz, APS Bomet, and Bidco United.