Gor Mahia Faces Uphill Battle After Narrow Defeat to El Merreikh Bentiu in CAF Champions League
Record FKF Premier League champions Gor Mahia face a challenging task in the return leg of the CAF Champions League preliminary round after suffering a 1-0 defeat to El Merreikh Bentiu of South Sudan. The first-leg match took place on Sunday afternoon at Juba Stadium.
El Merreikh’s Mohamed Musa scored the decisive goal in the first half, giving the Red Devils a crucial advantage heading into the second leg, which is scheduled to be played in Nairobi next weekend.
Gor Mahia began the match with intensity, creating early chances. Enock Morrison had a strong penalty appeal denied, and Levin Odhiambo’s lob over goalkeeper Juma narrowly missed the target.
In the 28th minute, K’Ogalo came close again when Alpha Onyango’s header from a corner rebound went wide after a collision with teammate Chris Ochieng.
El Merreikh’s attack strategy centered around their tall striker Musa, using his flick-ons and hold-up play to create opportunities. One such chance allowed Wayi to shoot from the edge of the box, but his effort went wide.
The second half was slow to start, with the first significant chance coming in the 60th minute when Alpha Onyango unleashed a powerful shot from just outside the box, only to be denied by Bentiu’s goalkeeper.
El Merreikh finally broke the deadlock in the 67th minute. Mohamed Musa capitalized on defensive errors by Gor Mahia, slotting the ball into an empty net.
Gor Mahia had a late chance to equalize ten minutes from time, but Shariff Musa’s cross was headed over the goal. Bentiu wasted two opportunities shortly after, with Kuich volleying over from close range and Musa failing to connect inside the area.
The South Sudanese side could have doubled their lead in the 82nd minute when Saaka set up Ater, but the midfielder blasted his shot over the bar from 12 yards out.
In the final moments, Gor Mahia substitute Samuel Kapen nearly secured a last-minute equalizer, but his header from a Paul Ochuoga cross struck the goal frame, leaving K’Ogalo with a difficult task ahead in the return leg.
