Gor Mahia players celebrate after their 3-2 victory over Murang’a Seal in an FKF Premier League match at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani on January 14, 2026.
The Football Kenya Federation Premier League match between Gor Mahia and Murang'a Seal at MISC, Kasarani on Wednesday was a game of two halves.
Gor Mahia fought back from 2-0 at half time to snatch a 3-2 win to return to the summit of the league table, dislodging the previous owners, their archrivals AFC Leopards
Murang'a Seal glided to a 2-0 lead via their captain Joe Waithira and Francis Memusi in the fourth and 18th minute, respectively.
Gor returned from the break the better side, restoring parity with quick-fire goals from Felix Oluoch (47th minute) and Paul Ochuoga (49th minute) before Ghanaian substitute Ebenezer Kofi Assifuah-Inkoom struck the winner in the 82nd minute.
The comeback win marked the first time since a 2-2 draw against Nzoia Sugar on December 9, 2023, that Gor Mahia had avoided defeat after going two goals down in a league match.
In the last 17 years, there is no record of Gor Mahia winning a league match after trailing 2-0. The win was also their first league comeback victory since a 3-1 win over Kariobangi Sharks on March 5, last year.
Gor Mahia now have 30 points, same as AFC Leopards, but with a better goal difference. Murang'a Seal's 10-match unbeaten run ended, leaving them ninth with 21 points.
So what changed at halftime?
Gor Mahia coach Charles Akonnor (right) gives tips to Enoch Morrison during their FKF Premier League match against Murang’a Seal at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani on January 14, 2026.
"We got a shock. They scored after four minutes and scored again a few minutes later," Gor Mahia coach Charles Akonnor said after the match.
"But what was good was that it would normally disorganise my the team but we remained hopeful and kept playing. We had a few chances to score, which we did not take," he said.
After the referee blew for halftime, Gor Mahia players dashed to the dressing room, perhaps intent on using every minute of the break to plot their comeback.
Akonnor's message
In the dressing room, Akonnor, with his shirt sleeves rolled up, said the tactics board was kept aside. Instead, he sent his players back to the pitch after giving them a Churchillian speech.
"In the dressing room, I told them to show character. I told them they should do something that we have never taught them. They should come out of their shells. I told them to do something because normally when we are down, we struggle and we never overcome our opponent. That was the message," Akonnor said.
Shariff Musa (right) of Gor Mahia fights for the ball with Price Musebi of Murang’a Seal during their FKF Premier League match at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani on January 14, 2026.
"It was not too many tactics. I told them, 'get ready, play, be proud, and do something that is out of you'. I could not be prouder of the boys. The technical bench is also proud of their attitude and character," the Ghanaian coach said.
Indeed, until their fightback on Wednesday, Gor Mahia's star-studded squad were one of the league's poster boys of submission. The team had lost the last four league matches in which they conceded first.
Akonnor expressed his immense pride in his team, describing their second performance as "out of imagination" and one that will be an important point of reference going forward.
Emotional speech
"This is what we want our boys to always be. This kind of performance. This kind of bravery. This kind of attitude. This kind of character. Today in the second half they were marvellous and we are proud of them and Gor Mahia fans should be proud of them," he said.
Akonnor also revealed that his assistant, Bismark Kobi-Mensah, also gave an emotional speech in the dressing room at halftime, during which they also absolved the team of blame for the poor first half.
"My assistant also spoke so well. We could not blame the boys. They were not that bad. It was just a situation that happened and we managed to encourage them," Akonnor said.
After the match, within sight and earshot of Akonnor, Kobi-Mensah was spotted engaging in a heated argument with Ben Owu, the Gor Mahia goalkeeper coach.
However, Akonnor downplayed the incident which he termed as a "positive argument".
Assifuah-Inkoom, who scored Gor Mahia's winner, is a 32-year old forward who played for Ghana U-20 and featured for clubs in France and Switzerland.
Akonnor described Assifuah-Inkoom is "a smart boy in the box."
"He knows how to move and free himself. We are very lucky to have him. We believe, going forward, he will do a lot of magic for us," Akonnor said.
