How Gor Mahia FC have performed to reach group stages of Caf Confederation Cup

The sole Kenyan representatives in continental scene, Gor Mahia will have their toughest test so far in the 2019 Caf Confederation Cup when they host multiple African champions Zamalek on Sunday.

K’Ogalo has the advantage of hosting the Egyptian giants in Nairobi with a multitude of fans expected to throw their weight behind the 1987 Mandela Cup champions. This will probably be the biggest clash in the Group D that also has Hussein Dey of Algeria and Angolan side Petro Atletico.

But Gor Mahia status as one of Africa’s heavyweight will be put to test by the Egyptian side that has won five Caf Champions League titles, one African Cup Winners Cup and three Caf Super Cup titles.

Goal Kenya.

    Gor Mahia v New Star of Cameroon.

That is the kind of opponent that coach Hassan Oktay’s charges will have to face at the Kasarani; the venue of good luck, where they are yet to lose a Caf match this campaign.

But some good news to K’Ogalo is the fact that Zamalek has never won an away match in the Caf Confederations Cup since September 2015, pulling three defeats and a draw. Gor Mahia has won three Caf Confederation Cup games at home.

Ahead of Sunday’s clash, Gor Mahia trounced Malawian side Nyasa Big Bullets in the Caf Champions League preliminary round. They beat Bullets 1-0 in the opening leg staged at the Kasarani before picking a 4-3 victory as Boniface Oluoch put up a good display in the penalty shootout.

That win handed Gor Mahia the ticket to face Nigerian opposition Lobi Stars. Again, Gor Mahia started at home where they picked a 3-1 win but fell 2-0 in the return leg to drop to the Caf Confederation Cup.

Goal Kenya.

       Gor Mahia v Lobi Stars of Nigeria

The Kenyan champions then had to force a 0-0 draw away in Cameroon to sail into the group stages on a 2-1 aggregate against New Star.

After Sunday’s match against Zamalek, Gor Mahia will visit Angolan side Petro Atletico in their second match on February 13. The third round will see K'Ogalo welcome home Algerian outfit Hussein Dey on February 24 and then travel to the North African country to play the side in the return leg on March 3.

Gor Mahia will face an away trip to Zamalek on March 10, before the final round on March 17 against Petro Atletico of Angola. The top two teams in each group will advance to the quarters, whose draw will be held on March 20.