Gor Mahia started their CECAFA Kagame Cup journey on a losing note after going down 1-0 to Zambia’s Red Arrows in a Group B game played at the Chamazi Sports Complex , Tanzania on Wednesday night.The match was coach Leonardo Neiva’s first in charge of Gor Mahia, and he opted to go with a starting XI consisting mainly of the old boys, with only new signing Samuel Kapen included in the team that started against the Red Arrows.##NAJAVA_MECA_8206848##Kevin Omondi started in goal with the three members of the usual backline—Geoffrey Ochieng, Joshua Onyango, and Sylvester Owino. The only change at the back was the inclusion of captain Philemon Otieno, who stepped in for Rooney Onyango, whose absence remains unexplained.Alpha Onyango, Lawrence Juma, and Musa Masika slotted into midfield, while Shariff Musa, Kapen, and Benson Omala led the line.The first half was largely even, but Red Arrows had two good chances, which were denied by an Ochieng goal-line clearance and a brilliant Omondi save. At the other end, Benson Omala had a half chance, but his header was saved by Arrows keeper Charles Kalumba as the first half ended barren.Two minutes into the second half, Chris Pius Akena, who had just come on after the break, had a good chance to break the deadlock, but his shot from a prime position went straight into Kalumba’s hands with the chances dried up after that.Gor made two more changes at the hour mark, with Alpha and Shariff being taken off for Ernest Wendo and Boniface Omondi as coach Neiva looked to rejig his team in search of the elusive goals.The Kenyan champions survived a scare in the 69th minute when Ackim Mumba, who had been causing them problems throughout the game, found space inside the area and unleashed a shot that, to Gor Mahia’s relief, came off the post.The Zambians’ pressure finally paid off when they broke the deadlock in the 74th minute through substitute James Kamanga, who fired home with an easy tap-in after latching onto a loose ball inside the area. In the end, the goal proved the difference in the game.The result leaves Gor Mahia third on the log with zero points. Sudan’s Al Hilal, who earlier today beat Djibouti Telkom 2-0, top the group. Gor’s next game is against Telkom on Sunday night.EXCLUSIVE Sichenje is officially red and white, Ajax first major testKenyan international linked with a multi-billion move to Italian giants
