After much uncertainty surrounding the venue for the highly anticipated Mashemeji Derby scheduled for Sunday, AFC Leopards have finally secured the Nyayo National Stadium for the clash against age-old rivals Gor Mahia.Originally, the game was to be hosted at Kasarani Stadium, but its current condition rendered it unsuitable. The stadium is undergoing renovations ahead of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament, with construction materials occupying sections of the touchline. Given the high-stakes nature of the derby, these materials posed a potential safety risk.##NAJAVA_MECA_8736097##Earlier, AFC Leopards chairman Dan Shikanda disclosed that the club, as the host team, had formally requested to use Nyayo Stadium, where the CHAN-related renovations are almost complete. He expressed confidence that the request would be approved.“We are expecting a positive response from the government regarding Nyayo Stadium’s availability. I urge Leopards fans to turn up in large numbers to support the team once Nyayo is confirmed to host the biggest fixture in the country,” Shikanda told Citizen Digital.Free agent Victor Wanyama reveals offers on table, rules out early retirementHe further noted, “We cannot play at any venue other than Kasarani or Nyayo. Since Kasarani remains unavailable due to the ongoing canopy installation, we’ve written to Sports Kenya for Nyayo Stadium. If all goes well, the derby will kick off at Nyayo this Sunday at 4:00 PM.”Mozzart Sport has now learned that Sports Kenya, in consultation with Kenya’s CHAN Local Organising Committee (LOC), has permitted AFC Leopards to host the game at the 30,000-capacity Nyayo Stadium for the Sunday 2 March 4 PM showdown against their arch-rivals.##NAJAVA_MECA_8737237##With Nyayo and Kasarani initially looking unlikely to host the high-stakes game, Shikanda had explored hosting the game in either Tanzania or Uganda which have venues capable of hosting the high-octane derby.Both teams enter the match following inconsistent league performances. Gor Mahia are third on the log with 36 points, while AFC Leopards trail them by three points in fifth place. Given their form, many pundits expect a closely contested match.Last season, Gor Mahia emerged victorious in both encounters, securing a 2-0 win in the first leg and a 1-0 triumph in the return fixture.Why Sunday’s Mashemeji Derby could be hosted in Uganda or Tanzania
