Mashemeji Derby Secures New Date Following Venue Standoff

The Mashemeji Derby that had been called off will now be staged on Sunday 7th December at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.

After days of uncertainty and frantic high-level crisis meetings involving the clubs and the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), the logistical deadlock that threatened to derail the 98th edition of Kenya’s biggest football rivalry has finally been resolved.

The fixture, originally slated for late November, had been thrown into limbo due to the unavailability of both Nyayo National Stadium and the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani. 

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Record champions Gor Mahia took the initiative to break the news to their supporters via their official channels, effectively ending the speculation that the match might be pushed to a midweek slot or postponed indefinitely. 

“The rescheduled Derby will be played on Sunday, 7th December 2025 at Nyayo Stadium,” the club confirmed.

The choice of December 7th allows for the completion of the World AIDS Day commemorative events that had initially rendered the stadium inaccessible. 

The new date eases the pressure on the FKF Competitions Committee, which was facing a significant scheduling nightmare.

Pushing the match too far into December would have risked fixture congestion, especially with continental commitments and the festive season break looming.

 By locking in the first Sunday of the month, the league calendar remains relatively intact, allowing both Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards to focus on their training regimes without the distraction of administrative uncertainties.

Both sides are desperate for bragging rights, with Gor Mahia looking to assert their dominance and AFC Leopards eager to turn the tide against their perennial tormentors.

The extra week of preparation could prove crucial for the technical benches to fine-tune their strategies.