Gad Mathews and Jerome Bryson Wangai have been included in the 22-man traveling squad that departed for Cairo for their second preliminary CAF Champions League return leg against Al Ahly on Thursday morning.
The FKF Premier League defending champions were handed a heavy defeat by the so-called “Real Madrid of Africa” in the first leg on Sunday afternoon at the Nyayo National Stadium.
A goal by Rami Rabia and a brace by South Africa international Percy Tau on either side of halftime was all that the Egyptian club required ahead of the second leg at home
The second leg will take place on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at the Al Salam Stadium in Cairo, where K’Ogalo will be hoping for an improbable comeback against Africa’s most decorated football club.
With that in mind, coach Leo Neiva has opted to include Wangai and Matthews, who had notably been absent from the squad for a while. Mathews was displaced as the club’s first choice goalkeeper Kevin Omondi last season, and the club have stated in their statement that he has shown immense “determination” to reclaim his spot.
Wangai, a natural left back, has been deployed as a winger for most of his career at the club, but has not had enough gametime especially since the registration of Levin Odhiambo, who signed from Tusker last March.
Neiva will look to get his defensive pairings right, with Alhonce Omija likely partnering Sylvester Owino in the heart of the defense, while Geoffrey Ochieng and Paul Ochuoga are expected to take up the left and right-back positions.
In midfield, Neiva is counting on the creativity of Enock Morrison, Austin Odhiambo and Alpha Onyango to give Gor Mahia a fighting chance, with Rooney Onyango taking up the right wing position. Sharrif Musa, who had an impressive individual display as a substitute, will likely start on the left wing,
During his post match sentiments, Neiva revealed that the side will continue playing in the identity he wants them to by expressing themselves on the ball, unlike his predecessor Johnathan McKinstry, who was more of a pragmatist that would set his team up to adapt to any situations.
“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.
