Gor Mahia were crowned champions of the inaugural ODM@20 Football Tournament in Mombasa after a second-half free kick from Ghanaian forward Ebenezer Adukwaw earned them a 1–0 victory over Bandari FC in a closely contested final at the Mbaraki Sports Grounds. The win not only delivered Gor Mahia the celebratory trophy but also came with Ksh. 1 million cash prize and additional of Ksh. 250,000 from Homabay County Governor Gladys Wanga, capping a memorable weekend for the 21-time Kenyan Premier League champions.
The final, watched by an enthusiastic coastal crowd, began with both teams showing caution and tactical discipline. The first half produced few clear chances as the game turned into a midfield battle, with neither side willing to take major risks early on. Bandari looked comfortable in possession, with William Wadri and Erick Balecho probing Gor’s defence, while Gor Mahia sought to exploit the flanks through Fidel Origa and Chris Ochieng.
The best moment of the first half came in the 33rd minute when Origa delivered a perfectly weighted through ball to Ochieng, who powered his shot past the advancing Levis Opiyo, only for the ball to crash against the crossbar and bounce away. It was a clear warning from the defending league champions, though the half would end goalless, reflecting the cautious approach of both coaches.
At the restart, Gor Mahia coach Charles Akonnor made a bold statement of intent with a triple substitution, bringing on his foreign trio ; Ebenezer Adukwaw, Enoch Morison, and Patrick Essombe to inject more pace and creativity. The move instantly lifted the tempo, and Gor Mahia began to dominate proceedings.
The breakthrough arrived in the 64th minute when Adukwaw stepped up to take a free kick just outside the box. With trademark precision, he curled the ball past Bandari’s defensive wall and into the top corner, sending the green-clad supporters into jubilation.
However, the celebrations were briefly overshadowed by concern when Adukwaw went down moments later twisting his arm. Medical staff rushed to his aid, and he was stretchered off and taken to an ambulance for further assessment. Despite the setback, his goal remained the decisive moment that sealed Gor Mahia’s triumph.
In his lineup, Akonnor had made two changes from the side that edged Shabana in the semi-final, entrusting Kevin Omondi with goalkeeping duties ahead of Gad Mathews, while Levin Odhiambo started in defence in place of Siraj Mohammed. Both justified their inclusion with solid performances, especially Omondi, who made crucial saves late in the game to deny Bandari an equalizer.
Bandari pushed hard in the closing minutes, forcing a series of corners, but Gor Mahia’s defensive resilience held firm. The final whistle sparked jubilant scenes from the Gor bench as they celebrated first silverware of the season . For coach Akonnor, it was a statement victory achieved despite missing six players on international duty and resting some regular starters.
