Gor Mahia coach Leonardo Martin Neiva has expressed disappointment over his team’s defensive lapses in their 3-0 defeat to Egyptian giants Al Ahly in the first leg of the second preliminary round of the 2024/2025 CAF Champions League.
Despite a spirited performance, Gor Mahia’s defense was undone by individual errors, allowing Al Ahly to capitalize and take a commanding lead heading into the return leg.
Al Ahly, known for their vast continental experience, punished Gor Mahia through a goal from Ramy Rabia and a brace from Percy Tau.
However, it was Gor Mahia’s defensive mistakes that ultimately proved costly.
Neiva, speaking after the match, did not shy away from pointing out the areas where his team faltered, emphasizing that their lack of composure in critical moments led to the heavy defeat.
“We played well, good football but they punished us for mistakes.
“They are experienced and managed the game very well, but I am satisfied with the general performance of the boys. In the second half, they sat behind and we tried our best to score,” the Brazilian gaffer said as quoted by Nation.
The Brazilian tactician was particularly critical of his side’s failure to maintain their shape, which allowed Al Ahly to break through their lines with ease.
Despite Gor Mahia’s efforts to push forward, their defense left too many gaps, which the Egyptian team exploited ruthlessly.
Neiva’s frustrations were evident as he reflected on the early goals that put his team on the back foot from the start.
“We started with three center-backs, but once we conceded those early goals, it didn’t make sense to maintain that setup. We needed to be more proactive in getting forward, but unfortunately, the damage was already done. Al Ahly managed the game very well after that,” Neiva stated in a post-match interview.
Neiva made two tactical substitutions in the first half, removing Kennedy Onyango and captain Philemon Otieno, decisions he said were necessary given the circumstances. With Gor Mahia down by two goals, he felt that his initial defensive setup was no longer viable.
“They were purely tactical changes,” Neiva explained as per MozzartSport.
“It didn’t make sense to keep three center-backs on the field when we were already two goals down. Philemon was also playing close to the central defense, and we needed to push more men forward to try and salvage something from the game.”
Despite his frustration with the defensive performance, Neiva praised the overall effort of his players, acknowledging that they showed fight, particularly in the second half.
However, he also noted that their attempts to chase the game left them exposed to counter-attacks, something that Al Ahly, with their vast experience, managed with ease.
“In the second half, we tried everything we could,” he said.
“We threw men forward, took risks, and tried to get back into the game. But they defended well, and we couldn’t find a way through. At the same time, we left ourselves open at the back, and that made things difficult.”
Neiva also took the time to thank the home fans for their unwavering support, acknowledging their presence in large numbers at Nyayo Stadium.
Gor Mahia will now have to prepare for the daunting task of overturning the 3-0 deficit when they face Al Ahly at the Al Salam Stadium in Cairo on September 21st.
The Kenyan champions will need a near-perfect performance if they are to progress to the next stage of the CAF Champions League.