History heavily stacked against Gor Mahia as they host Egyptian giants Pyramids

• The record Kenyan champions will be seeking to end a jinx that has lasted 58 years.
• Gor may have never eliminated Egyptian opponents in CAF competitions in eight previous match-ups dating back to 1969.
• In all the encounters, the Kenyan giants have had their nose bloodied and left licking their wounds.

History will be heavily stacked against Gor Mahia when they face Egyptian opponents Pyramids in the CAF Champions League first qualifying round, first leg at Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi on Sunday.

Gor may have never eliminated Egyptian opponents in CAF competitions in eight previous match-ups dating back to 1969. In all the encounters, the Kenyan giants have had their nose bloodied and left licking their wounds until the next hiding from their North African rivals.

Interestingly, Gor Mahia did eliminate Egyptians opponents, by way of a walkover in the first round of the 1979 Cup Winners Cup (now Confederation Cup) when Al Ittihad Alexandria pulled out of the competition after the draw had been done. K’Ogalo went on to reach the final of that competition, where they were crushed 8-0 on aggregate by Canon Yaounde of Cameroon

The record Kenyan champions will be seeking to end a jinx that has lasted 58 years.

Gor’s first encounter with an Egyptian came in the quarter-finals of the 1969 African Cup of Champions Clubs (now Champions League) where they were beaten 3-2 on aggregate by Ismaily after a 3-1 loss in Cairo and a 1-0 victory in Nairobi.

K’Ogalo have encountered Egyptian giants Zamalek four times and been drawn once each with Al Ahly, Ismaily and Engineering for the Petroleum and Process Industries (ENPPI).

In the 13 matches, Gor have won thrice (all at home), drawn twice and lost nine times.

Gor’s most recent encounter with Zamalek came in the 2018/19 Confederation Cup group stage.

Gor stunned the Egyptian giants 4-2 at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, on February 3, 2019, with Jacques Tuyisenge scoring twice while Dennis Oliech and Nicholas Kipkurui were also on target.

However, Zamalek responded emphatically in the return leg, winning 4-0. Gor finished second in the group but were eliminated by RS Berkane of Morocco in the quarter-finals after a 7-1 aggregate defeat.

Gor’s famously, or is it infamously, lost to Zamalek in the 1984 Champions League second round when their first round match in Egypt was abandoned late in the first half after K’Ogalo players roughed up the match officials after disputing a call, leading to the match being abandoned.

George Otieno ‘Solo’ tore up a red card shown to Abbas Magongo.

CAF kicked Gor out of the tournament and suspended six of their players, namely Abbey Nassur, George Otieno “Solo”, Magongo, George Onyango “Fundi”, Peter Otieno “Basanga” and Abdalla Shebe as well as coach Len Julians. Gor were also banned from continental competition for two years.

Gor did meet Zamalek again in the 1994 African Cup of Champions Club first round under coach Austin Oduor, drawing 1-1 in Nairobi before losing 2-1 in Cairo.

Interestingly, Zamalek’s winning goal came from a penalty kick that had to be retaken three times. Gor goalkeeper Charles Omondi saved the first two attempts, but the referee ruled that he had moved off his line.

In 1998, Gor defeated Zamalek 1-0 at home in the first round first leg of their Confed Cup, with Steve Okumu scoring late. Gor lost the second leg 4-0 in Cairo.

In 2013, Gor were eliminated from the Confederation Cup first round by ENPPI after losing 3-0 in Cairo and drawing 0-0 in Nairobi.

In September 2024, it was Al Ahly’s turn to dump Gor out.

The renowned Egyptian giants beat K’Ogalo 6-0 on aggregate in their Champions League second round.

Pyramids, the 2025 African champions, will have looked at history with satisfaction after the draw was done for this season’s competition.

They won their maiden Champions League title last year and were eliminated by eventual champions Mamelodi Sundowns in last season’s quarter-finals.

Will history repeat itself, or will Gor write history?

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