Record Kenyan champions Gor Mahia are gearing up for a crucial encounter as they face South Sudan’s Al Merreikh Bentiu in the first leg of the First Preliminary Round of the 2024/25 CAF Champions League. The highly anticipated match is set to take place on Sunday afternoon at the Juba Stadium.
As K’Ogalo prepare to take on their South Sudanese opponents, the team is fully aware of the significance of securing a favorable result away from home before the return leg at Nairobi’s Nyayo Stadium on August 25th. With the stakes high, Gor Mahia is focused on making a strong start in their quest to progress to the Second Preliminary Round of Africa’s premier club competition.
This match marks Gor Mahia’s return to the continental stage for the first time since 2021, and the 21-time Kenyan champions are determined to make a statement. Despite their recent absence from CAF competitions, expectations are high, and under the guidance of Brazilian head coach Leo Neiva, the team enters the match as slight favorites.
Speaking ahead of the clash, Neiva expressed his confidence in the team’s preparations, despite a few setbacks. “We are ready for the game for sure. We only had a few issues like players who could not join us, like Ronney Onyango and Musa Masika, but the others are ready. I am also very satisfied and happy because Austin Odhiambo is back and available to play,” Neiva told SportPesa Blog.
Neiva emphasized the importance of physicality and tactical discipline as key factors in overcoming Al Merreikh Bentiu. “We know we are playing away, and we have organized ourselves and prepared with that in mind. Our opponents are very strong and focus on asserting their physicality in the game. They have a very fast transition from the defensive zone to the offensive zone, and they put focus on the long balls which we trained on. Now I want to see effort, energy, and purpose from the team so that we impose ourselves physically and tactically,” he added.
Gor Mahia will also be buoyed by their recent preseason form, where they recorded back-to-back 1-0 victories against Tanzania’s Fountain Gate. These results have given the team a much-needed boost of confidence as they head into this pivotal fixture.
On the other hand, Al Merreikh Bentiu will be looking to capitalize on home advantage and cause an upset in the first leg. The South Sudanese side will be aiming to make the most of their opportunity to advance in the competition, knowing that a strong performance at home could set the tone for the return leg in Nairobi.
As the clock ticks down to kick-off, Gor Mahia will be hoping to lay the foundation for a successful CAF Champions League campaign with a positive result in Juba, setting the stage for an exciting second leg in Kenya.
