Gor Mahia vice-captain Michael Kibwage has called for focus and discipline as the Kenyan champions prepare to host Egyptian side Pyramids FC in the CAF Champions League first preliminary round on Sunday.
Gor Mahia will face Pyramids at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on September 6, with the first leg scheduled to kick off at 3pm. The return leg will be played in Cairo on September 13.
CAF has confirmed the fixture as part of the opening weekend of the 2026/27 Champions League preliminary round.
Kibwage has urged his teammates to put their recent disappointment behind them and concentrate on securing a positive result at home.
“We have a very good squad which is capable of dominating, and soon we will get our rhythm,” Kibwage said.
The match comes at a challenging time for Gor Mahia, with newly appointed captain Sylvester Owino sidelined after suffering a severe right calf sprain.
He is expected to be out for about two months. Coach Charles Akonnor has also acknowledged that injuries have made team selection more difficult.
Despite the injury concerns, Akonnor believes his team can compete with the Egyptian giants if the players remain disciplined, confident and united.
“Pyramids have good players and they have experience in African competitions. We respect them,” Akonnor said.
The Ghanaian coach has also stressed the importance of mental preparation, saying his players must be ready for the demands of a high-level continental encounter.
Gor Mahia enter the tie as Kenya’s reigning league champions, having won the domestic title for a record-extending 22nd time. Pyramids, meanwhile, are the reigning CAF Champions League holders, having won their first continental title in 2025.
The first leg in Nairobi therefore gives Gor Mahia an opportunity to build an advantage before travelling to Egypt for the decisive second leg.
For Akonnor and his players, the immediate task is to turn their home advantage into a strong performance against a Pyramids side that CAF describes as one of the continent’s leading clubs.
