Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose Rachier is confident about their chances as they begin their CAF Champions League campaign with a preliminary round clash against South Sudan’s Al Merreikh Bentiu in Juba on Sunday.
The team of 22 players and eight technical bench staff, left the country on Thursday with Rachier highlighting the importance of acclimatising ahead of the crucial opener.
"We are leaving early to acclimatise to the weather in Sudan," Rachier said on Thursday.
He registered improvement in the team after crashing out early in the Cecafe Kagame tournament on July 21.
“The team has improved... far better than the one that played at Cecafa. We don’t expect to exit at the preliminary stage,” he said.
Should they advance, Gor Mahia will face Champions League champions Al Ahly of Egypt in the next round.
The Egyptian giants are the most successful club in the competition, with 12 titles.
The inclusion of midfielder Austin Odhiambo in the squad is seen as a significant boost following the departure of last season’s top scorer Benson Omala to Lebanon’s Al Safa FC.
“Austin is fit, both mentally and physically, and will play a key role in our campaign,” Rachier noted.
Gor Mahia's last continental outing was in 2021, where they were eliminated by Zambia’s Napsa Stars.
A late penalty by Emmanuel Mayuka in the second leg denied Gor a group stage berth, losing 2-0 on aggregate.
Recently, Gor was unable to travel to Nigeria for the Coal Copa tournament as players downed their tools over unpaid allowances.
The Kenyan champions hope the addition of the quintet of Alphonce Omija (Dhofar), Ghanaian Enock Morrison, Ugandan Chris Akena, Congolese Gedeon Bendeka and Samuel Kapen from Nairobi City Stars will boost their chances.
Brazilian coach Leo Neiva faces the challenge of guiding Gor beyond the group stage, a feat that would mark a return to their former continental glory.
Gor are the only Cecafa team to have won a continental title — the Nelson Mandela Cup in 1987, beating Tunisia’s Esperance.
