Why it will be an uphill task for Gor and Police in Cairo

Gor Mahia and Al Ahly players engage in a tussle during their match last weekend at Nyayo Stadium. [Jonah Onyango,Stabdard]

Kenyan teams did not give good accounts of themselves against Egyptian opponents in the first legs of the CAF tournaments staged at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi at the weekend.

Kenya Police went down 1-0 against defending champions Zamalek SC in the Confederation Cup while Kenya's record league champions Gor Mahia were thrashed 3-0 by defending champions Al Ahly SC in the Champions League battle.

The Kenyan sides will need more than a miracle to overturn the deficits in Cairo later this week, going by Kenyan clubs' away history in the Egypt capital.

Gor Mahia's Alphonce Omija (left) and Al Ahly's Emam Abdelghany in their first leg match of the  CAF Champions League at The Nyayo National Stadium. Sep 15, 2024. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Police, who tackle Zamalek this Friday, need to work on their finishing power. Their execution upfront was weak in the opening fixture, managing only feeble shots that failed to challenge Zamalek custodian Mohamed Sobhy.

Police need to start the game strong and end it with a similar note. The law enforcers should make best use of their flanks, a tactic that Zamalek utilised to subdue them at Nyayo.

Some fouls too, like the one committed by Abud Omar, are very unnecessary at the continental level and this is what Zamalek capitalised on to finish the game.

Al Ahly's Yasser Elhanafy (left) and Sylvester Owino of Gor Mahia in their first leg match of the  CAF Champions League at The Nyayo National Stadium. Sep 15, 2024. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

It is also evident that new import Jesse Were is yet to gel with the rest of the Police squad and so its up to head coach Anthony Kimani to ensure the prolific goal-poacher gets his groove by aligning him with other players in training this week.

Were had good open chances but his anticipation and finishing was futile, clearly showing a lack of coordination by Kimani's charges.

Despite their shortcomings, Police had good set pieces and won more long balls compared to their opponents.

Al Ahly's Yasser Elhanafy (left) and Christopher Oduor of Gor Mahia in their first leg match of the  CAF Champions League match at The Nyayo National Stadium. Sep 15, 2024. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Police, who are making their debut in the African showpiece, should take the tournament as a learning curve to do even better in the sport.

Unlike the Police, Gor were brave in their start, sending Al Ahly in circles. The hosts had well laid and crisp passes in the opening seven minutes before they were distracted by the questionable fouls awarded to the opponents.

Gor had good shots which could have given them a big boost in the match had they been executed well in the directed target.

Their 12th man also worked round the clock to give them the push that was needed in the game.

Gor Mahia head Coach Martins Neiva in their first leg match of the  CAF Champions League match against Al Ahly at The Nyayo National Stadium. Sep 15, 2024. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

But Gor lost the encounter due to little mistakes here and there that head coach Leonardo Neiva has promised to rectify before their departure to Cairo.

"I was happy with our first half show, but we relaxed. We are to be blamed for some simple mistakes that saw us get punished.

"We now have to change tact in Cairo, but the away game won't be easy, nonetheless we will take everything as a learning lesson," Neiva said.