Bryson Wangai and Gad Mathews, who had recently been absent from Gor Mahia’s squad, have been included in the 22-man roster traveling to Cairo for their CAF Champions League second preliminary round return leg against Al Ahly.
The team departed on Thursday morning, determined to overturn a heavy defeat suffered in the first leg against the “Real Madrid of Africa” at Nyayo National Stadium. Al Ahly secured a 3-0 victory, with goals from Rami Rabia and a brace from South African international Percy Tau, which left Gor Mahia needing a miracle for the second leg.
The return fixture is set for Saturday, September 21, 2024, at the Al Salam Stadium in Cairo. Gor Mahia, facing Africa’s most successful club, hopes for an unlikely comeback. To bolster the squad, coach Leo Neiva has decided to include Wangai and Mathews, both of whom had been out of the team for some time. Mathews lost his spot as first-choice goalkeeper to Kevin Omondi last season, but his “determination” to regain his position has earned him a spot in the squad.
Wangai, primarily a left-back, has often played as a winger throughout his time at Gor Mahia. However, his opportunities have been limited, particularly after the arrival of Levin Odhiambo from Tusker last March. With the defensive setup in focus, Neiva is likely to pair Alhonce Omija with Sylvester Owino at center-back, while Geoffrey Ochieng and Paul Ochuoga are expected to occupy the left and right-back roles, respectively.
In midfield, Gor Mahia will rely on the creativity of Enock Morrison, Austin Odhiambo, and Alpha Onyango. Rooney Onyango is expected to take the right-wing position, while Sharrif Musa, who impressed as a substitute in the first leg, is likely to start on the left wing.
Speaking after the first leg, coach Neiva acknowledged the significant difference in quality between the two sides but emphasized that the experience was valuable for his players. Neiva, who prefers an expressive style of football, intends to maintain that approach despite the challenge ahead, contrasting with his predecessor Johnathan McKinstry’s more pragmatic tactics.
“They won 3-0, and they showed there is a large difference between us. But it was good for us to gain experience. Now we have a game away. We know it is not going to be easy, but we are going to try and play football,” Neiva said.
