Gor Mahia will take on Nigeria’s Lobi Stars this Saturday (tomorrow) in what is viewed as the biggest game of the season since its just 90+ minutes that stands between Gor Mahia and the prestigious CAF Champions League group stage.
Having beaten the Nigerian outfit 3-1 in the First leg match last weekend, Gor Mahia will be hoping to progress to the group stage for the first time in their history.
Last year, the team came close to qualification – losing out 0-1 to eventual champions, Esperence, and eventually settled for an appearance in the CAF Confederations Cup group stage instead.
Goals from star striker Jacques Tuyisenge and Samuel Onyango have left the Kenyan Champions needing a minimum of a loss by not more than one goal to sail through to the lucrative group stage.
The mood among the fan base is that of optimism and can be justified by the fact that the team has never been eliminated from continental competitions while holding a two goal advantage after the first leg.
The team camped in Ghana the last two days and travelled to Nigeria today (Friday).
The match will be played at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu from 3pm local time (5 pm Kenyan time).
The last time Gor Mahia played in Nigeria was in 1980 when they beat Bendel Insurance 2-1 in the First leg in the Africa Champions Cup.
Gor Mahia have over the years been good travellers to West Africa – their last continental tie in the region being way back in 1992 when they held Cameroon’s Canon Yaounde 1-1 and eliminated them from the Africa Champions Cup.
Gor Mahia have played competitive matches in West African cities seven times and won four, lost once and drew twice.