Tusker face Gor Mahia in FKF Super Cup test ahead of new season

Tusker FC will face FKF Premier League champions Gor Mahia in the Super Cup at Nyayo Stadium on Sunday, with kick-off scheduled for 3pm. Gor Mahia finished first in the 2025 league with 69 points from 34 matches, recording 20 wins, nine draws and five defeats.

Julien Mette’s Tusker side will be seeking the first trophy of the 2026/27 season after winning the Mozzart Bet Cup. The coach believes the club’s appearance at the recent CECAFA tournament in Rwanda gave the squad useful preparation against strong opposition before its domestic and continental commitments.

Tusker have undergone major changes, with several players leaving and a mixture of experienced recruits and young prospects joining the team. Mette said the experienced additions are expected to provide leadership, while players aged under 20 and 21 are being developed as part of the club’s longer-term plan.

The transition has brought integration challenges, especially for foreign players experiencing Kenyan football for the first time. Tusker will also be without several injured players for the Super Cup, creating opportunities for younger members of the squad to start against Gor Mahia.

Gor’s recent results have been uneven despite their league success. They lost 1-0 to Vipers, defeated APR 5-0, then fell 1-0 to Nairobi United before drawing 0-0 with Mara Sugar and beating Murang’a SEAL 3-1. Their next league fixture is against Murang’a SEAL on August 29.

Mette expects the rivalry and the trophy at stake to make the match a demanding test. Tusker defeated Gor in their previous meeting several months ago, adding further importance to Sunday’s contest as the champions seek a strong start and Tusker assess a reshaped squad.

Assistant captain Tom Teka said Tusker’s return from Rwanda had left the squad better prepared. He also identified the pressure of facing Gor in a major fixture as an important test for players without experience of the occasion, while the club views the match as part of its preparation for the CAF Confederation Cup.