Gor in Cairo before the Champions League second leg against Al Ahly

Gor Mahia landed safely in Cairo, Egypt on Thursday, ahead of their CAF Champions League match against defending champions Al Ahly of Egypt scheduled for Saturday.

As confirmed by chairman Ambrose Rachier, the team left Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on board Egypt Air at 01:00 on Tuesday.

Rachier is convinced that the 22-time Kenyan champions have what it takes to achieve a positive result in Cairo despite losing the first leg 3-0 in Nairobi on Sunday.

“There is no obvious obstacle that could prevent us from annulling the result of the first leg and probably winning on penalties after the match,” said a hopeful Rachier.

Before departure, head coach Leonardo Neiva said it was unfair to put Africa’s top teams together with the lower-ranked teams in the preliminary round.

“On paper, I think it’s unfair to put us against such a big team. But that’s football. It gives us experiences we’ve never had before,” said Neiva.

However, he insisted that K’Ogalo could still spring a surprise and said all was not lost.

“We did the same against Al Merreikh Bentiu from South Sudan. They beat us in the first leg and we managed to turn the result around. We have a plan and we pray that it works for us in Cairo,” Neiva added.

Al Ahly are the current defending champions of the CAF Champions League and have won the title a record 12 times.

Gor, on the other hand, is the only team from the CECAFA region to have won a continental title, the Nelson Mandela Cup in 1987 under coach Jack Johnson.

However, the team has struggled to make a big impression at continental level recently.

Gor’s travelling party consists of 22 players and members of the technical bench.

Goalkeeper Mathew Gad, who had been on the technical bench for a long time, was included.

Since the arrival of Kevin Omondi from Sofapaka last season, Gad has been the third choice goalkeeper, with Omondi preferred between the posts.

Young goalkeeper Caleb Otieno has also made it to Cairo. The game will take place on Saturday 21 September from 19:00 EAT.