Gor Mahia head coach Leonardo Neiva has tipped the Kenyan champions to mount a formidable comeback in the CAF Champions League reverse fixture after falling 1-0 to Al Merreikh in the qualification stage in Juba, South Sudan, on Sunday.
The sides will display their strength in a vicious and decisive battle at Nyayo Stadium on August 25. The aggregate winner will face reigning champions Al Ahly in the first round.
Speaking in a post-match interview, Neiva hailed his charges for putting up a valiant fight but chided them for squandering glaring opportunities, including a sitter in the dying minutes of the hotly-contested thriller.
“We could have easily gained an advantage in Juba but our strikers missed many chances in the match. This is an aspect of the game we should work on before our return fixture. We missed our main striker, Benson Omalla, who did a good job in the league last season,” he said.
“We cannot afford to be complacent in a big match like this one. The players must step up and showcase their quality as Gor Mahia players. They cannot afford to settle for average performances.”
The Brazilian gaffer nonetheless expressed optimism that the record Kenyan champions will rise from the ashes and progress to the next stage of the competition.
“We are a big team and we have left a huge mark on the continental stage before. I saw a lot of potential in the players, including the ones who joined us recently.
“We studied our opponents keenly and we know what we should do to overcome them on Sunday.”
He appealed to their ardent fans to fill Nyayo Stadium to the rafters and roar on the Kenyan giants to victory.
“The large number of fans who turned up to cheer us away from home impressed us. We expect a bigger number since we will be playing at home,” he said.
“They should not feel disappointed by the outcome of today’s match. We shall give them something to smile about next week.”
Neiva paraded a star-studded lineup including Ghanaian midfielder Enock Morrison, who announced his arrival with an impressive performance.