Gor Mahia head coach Leonardo Neiva’s comments in the buildup to the second CAF Champions League preliminary round return-leg clash against Al Ahly might have looked like a foreact play of what the team expects when they take the field on Saturday evening.Already trailing 3-0 and inside the ‘cauldron’ at the Cairo International Stadium, Gor Mahia face an uphill task of reversing the tide against the defending champions.##NAJAVA_MECA_8354899##And while fans may hold on to the hopes that miracles do happen, Neiva believes there is an apparent enormous chasm between the two sides, perhaps indicating a feel of K’Ogalo window-dressing in the 1900 EAT.Speaking after the team’s second-training session on the same ground Kenyan representatives Kenya Police were bundled out of the CAF Confederation Cup on Friday night, Neiva said: “First of all, we must be realistic because this is football and our chances of qualifying for the group stage are very slim.“Al Ahly are at another level, have 11 clean sheets, so we will just try to score early and if not possible to secure a win, just learn from how they are playing.”🟢 | NEXT ASSIGNMENT We are in for a big one tomorrow in Egypt…. we are Mahia, we will give it our best. Your predictions? #Sirkal | #GorFansClub | #TotalEnergiesCAFCL pic.twitter.com/xrpswuaJbJ— GOR MAHIA FC (@OfficialGMFC) September 20, 2024 In the first-leg match, a series of errors from the K’Ogalo rearguard allowed Al Ahly to race to an early 2-0 lead in the first half, and Neiva relies on the fact that another go at the Egyptians could do them good in regards “gaining valuable experience.”“It’s been nearly two-and-a-half years since we played a proper international tournament and going by how we played in the first-leg, it is important for us to play such games just to gain more experience and market our players,” he said.Significant team-news made official on Friday will be the absence of starting goalkeeper Kevin Omondi, who has been ruled out of the tie due to a shoulder injury.His place will be taken by Caleb Omondi, while Neiva hinted at the benching of Rooney Onyango for being “about 50/50 and not 100% right now.”Gor Mahia faces tough challenge as key keeper is ruled out of Al Ahly clash
