Gor Mahia Crash out of CAF Champions League

Kenya's Gor Mahia suffered 5-1 defeat to Egyptian heavyweights, Pyramids FC, to bow out of the CAF Champions League, on Sunday, at the 30 June Stadium, Cairo.

Consequently, the record Kenyan champions bowed out 7-1on aggregate, having been beaten 2-0 in the first leg played a week ago at the Nyayo National Stadium.

Pyramids’ 5-1 home win is Gor Mahia’s heaviest defeat in the CAF Champions League since their 6-0 loss to CR Belouizdad in 2020. K’Ogalo have now lost all 7 of their away CAF matches against Egyptian opposition, conceding 24 goals.

Pyramids began the match brightly, breaking the deadlock in the 27th minute when Walid El Karti was found unmarked from a free-kick and rose high to head home past the helpless Byrne Omondi.

Lackluster defending on the right side of the K’Ogalo backline then allowed Naser Maher to finish off a neat exchange of passes inside the box, curling his strike into the bottom corner to double the hosts’ lead in the 38th minute.

With five minutes added on before the break, Pyramids added a third in the first minute of stoppage time through Youssef Obama, who connected with a cross to tap the ball into the back of the net.

However, a moment of lost concentration by Pyramids allowed K’Ogalo to pull one back in the 45+3rd minute, as David Okoth produced a neat finish to score for the visitors.

David Okoth’s strike ended Gor Mahia’s 32-year wait for an away goal against Egyptian opposition in CAF competition, dating back to their match against Zamalek in 1994.

Pyramids put the final touches on the victory late in stoppage time, with Mostafa Zico and Mahmoud Zalaka adding late goals to seal the result on the night.

Pyramids FC will now advance to face South Sudanese side El Merreikh Bentiu, who eliminated Heegan SC of Somalia, in the second preliminary round.