Former Gor Mahia coach Bob Oyugi has expressed confidence that the club can pull off the unthinkable by overturning their 3-0 first-leg loss to Al Ahly and advancing to the CAF Champions League group stage.Gor Mahia faces the defending champions in Cairo on Saturday after suffering a heavy defeat in the first leg of second preliminary round played at Nyayo Stadium on Sunday, a loss largely attributed to self-inflicted errors that Al Ahly capitalized on.##NAJAVA_MECA_8342659##Many pundits see the upcoming match as an easy task for the hosts, who are chasing their 13th CAF Champions League title. However, Oyugi, who led Gor Mahia to their 11th title in 1993, remains optimistic that the Kenyan giants can stage a remarkable comeback.”They (Gor Mahia) can still turn the tables—yes, it is possible. We’ve seen such comebacks happen worldwide. Gor Mahia players are highly technical and creative. They just need to shift their mentality. The coach and officials must ensure the players are in the right mental state. I remember we faced a similar challenge with Hellenic FC from South Africa in 1993,” Oyugi told SportsBoom.com.”We beat Hellenic 2-0 in Nairobi after losing 3-1 in Cape Town, and that qualified us. So why can’t Gor Mahia do the same? Football has evolved, and anything is possible. Being African champions doesn’t make Al Ahly unbeatable.”HT: Gor Mahia 0 – 2 Al Ahly Gor Mahia goalie, defence and mid with a half to forget as Egyptian press, fast play and silky touches prove too hot to handle. Schooled. Gor’s attack has tried but finishing the rare chances dash. #CAFCL sio rahisi ⚽ pic.twitter.com/GNGbU02Gld— Warothe Kiru (@warothe) September 15, 2024 Oyugi criticized the mindset with which Gor Mahia approached the first leg, questioning their mental approach when facing North African teams.”Who said African champions are invincible? I think Gor Mahia went into the game believing they couldn’t win, which cost them. Kenyan teams need to break the psychological barrier when facing North African opponents. Our players often feel inferior to Arab teams.”Despite the odds, Oyugi believes Gor Mahia can turn things around on Saturday, stating, “Football is unpredictable—if Al Ahly can score three goals in Nairobi, Gor Mahia can score three in Cairo.”Sofapaka awaits clearance of key foreign signingsOyugi also highlighted Al Ahly’s vulnerability in the first leg, noting that Gor Mahia initially dominated the match before conceding two quick goals due to defensive mistakes.”Al Ahly didn’t seem like an unbeatable team. Gor Mahia was unsettled after letting in those two goals, but they controlled the first 10 minutes before that happened,” he added.He further emphasized that Gor Mahia must reorganize their defense and focus on their tactical transitions in order to prepare for the crucial return leg.”Their defense fell apart too easily. They need to prepare mentally, and apply the ‘principle of defense.’ This isn’t the end of the road for them. The team needs more motivation than ever.”Kenya Police Bullets set sights on continental dominance, says Chairman Munga Nyale
