Gor Mahia sealed their place in the final of the ODM@20 Football Tournament after a dramatic 1–1 draw with Shabana FC at Mbaraki Sports Grounds was settled via penalties. K’Ogalo triumphed 4–3 in the shootout to book a mouthwatering final clash with hosts Bandari FC.

Despite missing six first-team players on international duty, Gor Mahia head coach Charles Akonnor made a bold decision to rest four more regular starters, Ghanaian duo Enoch Morison and Ebenezer Adukwaw, as well as fullbacks Paul Ochuoga and Bryton Onyona. With ten changes from his usual XI, Akonnor’s youthful and rotated side was put to the test by an aggressive and well-drilled Shabana outfit.

The match was a thrilling contest from start to finish, with Shabana playing some of their best football in recent months. Their counter-attacking approach caused Gor Mahia all sorts of problems early on, and were it not for goalkeeper Gad Mathews’ heroics, the Kisii based side could have taken a firm grip on the game. The Gad Mathews pulled off a stunning save to deny Juma and was again alert to thwart multiple first-half attacks.

Against the run of play, Gor Mahia took the lead in the 42nd minute when Samwel Kapen pounced on a loose ball in the box and fired past Caleb Omondi. The goal came after good buildup play from Lawrence Juma and Fidel Origa. Despite being second-best for much of the half, Gor carried a 1–0 advantage into the break.

The second half resumed with more Shabana pressure. They rattled the crossbar early on before substitute Humphrey Obina finally pulled them level with a sensational free kick in the 59th minute, leaving Gad Mathews with no chance.

As tempers flared and the game opened up, yellow cards were shown to both sides ,Erick Otieno, Patrick Essombe, and Samwel Kapen all going into the referee’s book. Shabana’s relentless energy continued to test Gor Mahia’s backline, but luck deserted them at key moments.

There was concern for Gor in the 79th minute when Fidel Origa was stretchered off after a nasty collision, forcing an emergency substitution, Enoch Morison stepping in .

With no winner after 90 minutes, the match went to penalties. Gor Mahia ultimately triumphed in the shootout, joining Bandari in Friday’s final..

While Shabana will rue missed opportunities, their impressive performance was a reminder of their growing strength. They now shift focus to the third-place playoff against AFC Leopards.