Gor Mahia head coach Leo Neiva is confident his team will beat the Egyptian giant Al Ahly FC in the first leg of their CAF Champions League second preliminary round at Nyayo stadium today.
K’Ogalo is seeking to reach the group stages and a win in the first leg at home will be key step towards this.
Neiva however admits beating the North African giant which has won a record 11 CAF Champions League titles is an uphill task.
“Al Ahly is the top club in Africa according to CAF rankings. But football is 11 vs. 11, and we have to push ourselves to maintain a high level of play. We must aim to win at home and gain an advantage for the away leg.” Neiva said.
After a 1-0 loss in the first leg against South Sudan’s El Merreikh, K’Ogalo recovered with a spectacular victory of 5-1 in August 25.
This comeback resulted in a 5-2 aggregate win, propelling them to the next round.
Today’s match is a defining moment for Gor Mahia as they aim to progress to the group stage of the 2024/25 Total Energies CAF Champions League.
The second leg of the tie will take place on Saturday, September 21, 2024, in Egypt, where Gor Mahia will need to hold their own against Al Ahly on their home ground.
The last time Gor beat an Egyptian club was in 2019. They thrashed Zamalek 4-2 at the Kasarani Stadium in the CAF Confederation Cup.
