Gor Mahia head coach Leonardo Neiva has revealed that they will employ a more conservative approach in their CAF Champions League qualifier against Egyptian giants Al Ahly. Egyptian giants Al Ahly Cairo are the most successful club on the continent having won 43 national league titles, 38 national cup titles, 14 national Super Cups, a record 12 CAF Champions League titles, a CAF Confederation Cup, and a record seven CAF Super CupsThe club is also the current defending CAF Champions League champions adding to their record four African Cup Winners’ Cups, an Afro-Asian Club Championship, an Arab Club Champions Cup, an Arab Cup Winners’ Cup, a record two Arab Super Cups, and a bronze medal in the 2006, 2020, 2021 and 2023 FIFA Club World Cup.However, despite this pedigree, Neiva believes they can get a positive result against the Egyptians when the two sides clash in the Second Preliminary Round of the CAF Champions League.##NAJAVA_MECA_8290604##Speaking after his side spanked South Sudanese side El Mereikh 5-1 on Sunday, Neiva said: “Today, our players showed effort, energy and commitment and proved that they are a top club on the continent.”“We are happy to qualify for the next round and are satisfied with the performance of the players,” he said.Neiva particularly praised his players for making a strong come-back after their opponents had scored an early goal.Brace hero Rooney Onyango’s versatility praised by Gor Mahia head coach“Football is a mental game and in the first half, our opponents tried to disorient us as the game control swung both ways. The fact that we equalized almost immediately was very important for us. It shows that my players have the mental strength to come back always.“Had they scored a second goal, we would have given up. Now we have to be ready to play Al Ahly and despite their pedigree, I believe we can get something from them,” he added.Neiva insists that in football anything can happen and despite Al Ahly’s decorations, the match will be decided on the pitch.##NAJAVA_MECA_8290570##“Against, Al Ahly we will try our best and play football. Obviously, we cannot expose ourselves and therefore our shape and model will be different. We have enough time to prepare for them.”He also urged his players not to let the big win carry them away but rather stay humble and keep their feet on the ground.“We cannot afford to be comfortable because of the results today. We must keep pushing ourselves to get better results,” he concluded.Humbled El Merreikh coach sings Gor Mahia praises after heavy defeatThis was coach Neiva’s first win in a competitive match and the huge result will certainly boost not just the team’s confidence but also the impatient fans.
