Fireworks will be expected to blaze when traditional rivals AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia battle for bragging and the coveted rights to fly the Kenyan flag in the CAF Confederation Cup when the two sides rekindle their rivalry in the Football Kenya Federation Cup final on Sunday evening at the Nyayo Stadium.The two football giants will rekindle their rivalry in what is expected to be a volcanic final after toiling to edge division one side Equity FC and league debutants Bidco United in the semifinals played last month.The match was initially slated to be played at the Utalii grounds but was moved to a befitting venue after Sports Kenya agreed to have it hosted at Nyayo behind closed doors.Having watched Tusker clinch the ticket to the CAF Champions League , the two sides head to the match envious to follow the brewers in representing the country at the continental level, a stage Gor has graced season in season out from 2017 while Leopards will be hoping to return after almost three years out.🟢 | UPDATE The Cup match final ( Gor Mahia 🆚️ AFC Leopards) set to be played tomorrow at Nyayo Stadium will be aired on K24 ( 📺) as from 3pm.#Sirkal | #Betsafe pic.twitter.com/DFc1LFS335— ⚽️GOR MAHIA FC (@OfficialGMFC) July 3, 2021 Ordinarily, the fixture which brings together the biggest and most successful football clubs in the country attracts unbridled hype across various platforms and derby fever in the respective camps and the script is not different this time round as both camps are breathing fire ahead of the match.Leopards head coach Patrick Aussems who will be overseeing his first Nairobi derby promised unleash a ‘shock’ in the game immediately after losing a midweek league match to Kariobangi Sharks while Gor skipper Haron Shakava is also confident of denying Ingwe their first major title in four years.One thing we will surely miss is the fan ambience in the ‘mashemeji’ derby this Sunday at the Nyayo Stadium.Here is a snippet of the teams die-hard fans take on the match. pic.twitter.com/jkRwB2Q60e— FKF Betway Cup (@FKFCup) July 3, 2021 Shakava who has enjoyed the luxury of leading Gor players from the dugout for a couple of seasons believes that history will count for nothing in the match but remained optimistic of ending their eight-year long wait for the Cup as well as hand coach Carlos Vaz Pinto his first Mashemeji Derby win.”I am aware that statistics show that we have dominated this fixture especially in the past few years but that will not influence the game in any way. It will be a tough one as both teams want to play continental football. We have a plan to win the game and toast the Cup which has been missing in our cabinet for eight years now,” he said. Gor will be without their assistant captain Philemon Otieno who is suspended after getting his marching orders in the semis.Similarly, Leopards youngster Lewis Bandi who was voted man of the match in the first leg of the fixture in the league is eager to inspire Leopards to end their five year wait for a win over Gor.This SUNDAY at NYAYO STADIUM….#FKFCupFinals #MashemejiDerby #OursForever #INGWE pic.twitter.com/bQ7leVxhl0— AFC Leopards (@AFCLeopards) July 2, 2021 Bandi was among the basketball of starting players who Aussems rested in their match against Sharks . Other players who the Belgian spared their energies for the match are his skipper Isaac Kipyegon, Elvis Rupia, Collins Shichenje and Austin Odhiambo. ” The best way to restore the glory of the club is winning trophies and the final presents a chance to give the fans something to smile about after missing out on the June 30 deadline. We are ready and focused to give the best and carry the day, ” he said.The last time the two sides met in February, the league match did not erupt into live and eventually ended in a disappointing barren draw.Gor have won this fixture 29 times in the 89 meetings while Leopards have won 27 times with 33 matches ending evenly.Should the match end in a draw in regular time, the winner will be determined from the spot.
