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Al Ahly coach Marcel Koller is still cautious of Gor Mahia even after his team secured a massive 3-0 win in the CAF Champions League first leg.
Despite securing a commanding 3-0 victory in the first leg, Al Ahly head coach Marcel Koller remains cautious as his side prepare to face Gor Mahia in the second leg of the CAF Champions League second preliminary round.
Koller, whose team is chasing a third consecutive Champions League title, has praised Gor Mahia’s resilience and warned against complacency.
"This tie is not over. Gor have shown they can play, and we have 90 more minutes to go before we plan for the group stage," Koller stated, acknowledging that although Al Ahly have a solid lead, the Kenyan giants cannot be underestimated.
Gor Mahia head coach Leonardo Neiva, on the other hand, faces the daunting task of overturning the 3-0 deficit when his side travels to Cairo. Admitting the uphill battle, Neiva is hoping for a miracle.
"In football, anything can happen," said the Brazilian, adding that while he was satisfied with his team's efforts in the first leg, key errors cost them dearly. "Conceding two goals in two minutes was the difference. We can't afford such mistakes in Cairo."
Al Ahly dominated much of the first leg at Nyayo Stadium, with Ramy Rabia capitalizing on a rebound to open the scoring in the 14th minute, followed swiftly by a Percy Tau strike in the 15th minute.
Tau later completed his brace in the 75th minute after Gor Mahia defender Geoffrey Ochieng slipped, allowing the South African to seal a 3-0 win.
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13:12 - 18.09.2024
Tyron Kariuki, Aldrine Kibet & Amos Wanjala headline Kenya’s squad for AFCON U20 qualifiers
Salim Babu has picked several familiar faces from the side that reached the finals of the CECAFA U18 Championships last year in his provisional squad for the AFCON U20 qualifiers.
Neiva will look to get his defensive pairings right, with Alhonce Omija likely partnering Sylvester Owino in the heart of the defense, while Geoffrey Ochieng and Rooney Onyango are expected to take up the left and right-back positions.
In midfield, Neiva is counting on the creativity of Enock Morrison and Alpha Onyango to give Gor Mahia a fighting chance.
Despite their heavy first-leg loss, Gor Mahia's spirited performance earned respect from Koller. The Swiss coach noted, "Gor have shown their worth, but we cannot relax until the job is done."
As Gor Mahia trains intensively at Mpesa Foundation in Thika, Neiva is set to field his best 11, knowing that only a flawless performance can keep their Champions League dreams alive.
The second leg will take place on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at the Al Salam Stadium in Cairo, where K'Ogalo will be hoping for an improbable comeback against Africa's most decorated football club.
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13:00 - 18.09.2024
Carabao Cup: Harambee Stars prospect features for Leyton Orient in sorry defeat to Brentford
The 19-year old featured for Leyton Orient but could not help them pull an upset off against Premier League outfit Brentford in their third round Carabao Cup encounter on Tuesday night.
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