Gor Mahia vs Lobi Stars preview
Gor Mahia will take on Nigerian champions Lobi Stars at Kasarani today, in a Africa champions League first round match. At stake is a place in the group stage.
The boys have an opportunity to make history. No Kenyan side has ever eliminated a Nigerian side in a continental tourney. And no Kenyan side has ever made to the group stage of the Africa champions league.
It will not be easy against Lobi Stars who are based in Makurdi, Benue state. They currently sit atop the league with 43 points, two ahead of their closest competitors Akwa United. And since the league was suspended due to problems with FIFA, Lobi Stars were declared the representatives in this year’s champions league despite the fact that there were still 14 matches to play.
Nigerian teams typically make it to the group stage of this competition. Nothing less than that is expected from Lobi stars. They proved their mettle when they eliminated UMS de Loum of Cameroun by a score of 2-1 aggregate. Prior to that they had beaten Enugu Rangers 1-0 to lift the Nigerian Super cup.
Lobi stars are motivated to show Nigerians that they are worthy of playing in this event. Many Nigerians are unhappy that Lobi stars were given the ticket to play in the champions league under controversial circumstances. They also want to redeem Nigerian football after the country lost a slot in the Champions league due to their recent under-performance.
Lobi stars was formed in 1981. They are sponsored by the state of Benue. They have only won the Nigerian league twice (1999 and 2018). The last time they participated in the Champions League was in 2000, and they reached the group stage.
As such, Gor Mahia are far more experienced in this event. And their coach Solomon Ogbeide is well aware of Gor Mahia.
“Of course we know that Gor Mahia are a very big club from Kenya but the business…is the match on the field of play and Lobi Stars are also a big team,” he told the official Caf website.
Ogbede went on to insist that he is confident that his side is equipped to beat the Kenyan champions.
“We are not worried because we have all it takes to do well on the continent. We have the personnel in terms of players, sound administrators and we have the support of government and people of Benue State; but above all, we have God which is our major weapon.” he said
Like Nyasa Big Bullets, Lobi also is comprised of local players. They don’t have any foreigners. After winning the league, they strengthened their side by signing key performers from other Nigerian teams: Kelly Kester, Samuel Mathias, Nojeem Olukokun and Sikiru Alimi .
Alimi who joined from Warri Wolves, is one of their key performers and will be looked upon for goals. He scored one of the goals against UMS de Loum.
The other dangerous player to watch is striker Samad Kadiri. He scored the winner when Lobi lifted the Super cup three weeks ago.
Nigeria does not have any high altitude venues. To deal with the high altitude of Nairobi, they decided to arrive as late as possible.
“We have heard a lot about Kenya and we are making effort to ensure that we are not affected by the high altitude there. We know that the game will come up in Nairobi and that it will hold at the Moi International Stadium in Kasarani which is a grass pitch,” said their Chairman Mike Idoko.
Gor Mahia for their part will be hoping to build on their overhwelming victory over Zoo Kericho a week ago. It has not been a happy few weeks for Gor Mahia having lost to Bandari in the league opener and lost to Kariobangi Sharks in the Super cup.
But the arrival of Hassan Oktay as the new coach has rejuvenated the players who are eager to impress.
Skipper Haron Shakava who scored one of the penalties that propelled Gor Mahia to this round is certain that Kogalo will put in a good show.
“We are ready for the game,” he said adding, “we want to win at home with a big margin so that we head to Nigeria with a good result in order to qualify for the group stage. This is our main focus to up our achievement from last season where we reached the Confederation Cup last 16.” said Shakava to the Nation
There is plenty of video of Lobi Stars available online so one hopes that coach Oktay has done his homework.
The return of Jacque Tuyisenge if fully fit would be a huge boost to Kogalo whose strike force has been blunt. Much will be expected from new signing Butambuze who has been possibly the best player on the side this season.
In midfield, Francis Kahata will likely be unavailable. Kenneth Muguna is injured. The burden of creating chances will fall on Samuel Onyango, Humprey Mieno and George Odhiambo. Ernest Wendo will anchor the midfield.
The match will be officiated by centre referee Slim Belkhouas from Tunisia Slim assisted by compatriots Khalil Hassani and Jridi Faouzi as first and second assistant referees respectively. Nasrallah Jaouadi will be the fourth official.
All the best team Gor mahia
Gor all the way to the group stage
Our new coach Hassan OKTANGE, we are behind you. Is there any channel for live broadcast?
Not live
We have done all we can and fully equipped the team tactically and technically. Today with God on our side we are winning as heads that have combined to prepare K’Ogalo are experienced ones. Let us now do the talking on the pitch…
Jasego
GOD BLESS YOU for the sacrifice you have made for this great club.
Many may not know or see your sublime sacrificial dedication to Gor Mahia FC.
Be assured God almighty sees..
May God remember you Jasego.
As you have watered the team. May God water you to the GLORY OF GOD.
@Jasego , I wish to join @George in urging you to continue the good work you are selflessly and voluntary doing to kogalo , but while doing that you must appreciate that not all will acknowledge your endeavours because the world is full of sad men , the type Dr Stella Nyanzi rightly refers to as men going through a male version of severe and painful mental menstruation , a situation akin to the females , only difference being the body part they affect , the consequencesof such Iis a prospensity to want to unprovocatedly want to lash out at someone , something and anything courtesy of unstable and volatile moodswings , a situation made worse and encouraged by access to cheap internet bundles and cheap fake phones .
But if @Jasego it may make you feel better , just remember
that despite making the blind see , the deaf hear and the dead resurrect and doing it in broad daylight , Jesus Christ was still disowned in favour of the biggest murderer of his time , Barnabas , Painfully enough , part of those who shouted in favour of Barnabas , were those of whom there relatives he had killed and those of whose relatives Jesus had healed .
If anybody means well for Gor and is willing to go further and sacrifice his time and resources then that is something to be encouraged , let as not live in a world where if AR says 1+1=2 and I agree with him then am part of a cartel , doing that is just plain inexcusable brainlessness .
Finally lets all turn out and cheer our beloved Kogalo to victory , We are winning this thing .
@George and @Teddy.. I appreciate sincerely the good words of encouragement and fortitude shown above. We hope to do well today and make the nation proud…Let all converge at the stadium as we cheer and guide our boys to glory…
People like sideshows. We know where the buck stops as far as management of Gor Mahia is concerned. If players stage a go slow for unpaid or delayed salaries why should we start mudslinging Ja’Asego?
Ja’Asego kindly update this site on the following matters arising:
1. How far have you gone with your undertaking to advance credit facilities to Gor Mahia to sign a top notch striker?
2. What is the progress on re-signing Karim?
3. You alluded that 5 coaches are working together to ensure we go past these Nigerians, how much water can this hold?
4. What is your position regarding the proposal that you take up the Organizing Secretary role as Jamigori chairs the club?
5. Can you convince the powers that be together with Cliff Nyakeya that he comes back home before the close of the transfer period?
6. Are you aware that this match will be beamed live in Nigeria while we chew a blackout here at home?
I want to take this opportunity to wish our boys a great game with a huge margin win over the big-talking Nigerians. Tunayo kazi moja tu, tunayo kazi moja. Kazi ni kumduwaza Mnigeria.
K’Ogalo let us beat these Nigerians for the souls of Gibrilla, that 14-year-old Sierra Leonian boy who was shot at point blank range by Nigerian ECOMOG forces when he was picking coffee berries for his mother to roast and prepare the family breakfast. Let us win and wipe the tears of those Sierra Leonian orphans, widows and widowers who lost their loved ones to the brutality of Nigerian ECOMOG forces who enjoy impunity to this day.
Answers will come later bro…Now is total meditation time and psychological preps for these boys…
Jasego no mweupe kama pamba.ondiegi the man eat man society are well known in Gor. Why do they struggle in getting posts in for if there is no pay???
And HE replied give to Ceasar what is Ceasar’s & to GOD what belongs to GOD. SP gave EC monies to cover salaries for both Nov&Dec18 our players are unpaid YET we still expect them to win. That will take a miracle but this is MAHIA. BLESSED BE JOTUGOWA!
Gor 1 – Lobi 0 Tuyisenge 7th minute
45′
#CAFCL
Gor Mahia ??3-1 Lobi Stars ??
7′ J.Tuyisenge
22′ S. Onyango
33′ S.Onyango
30′ Kadiri
Gor 3 – Lobi 1, Tuyisenge, Onyango abrace
Half time
Jasego, Ambia coach tusikue na tamaa ya mabao sana tuache nya wazi. Its time to protect the lead.
I meant ambia coach tusikue na tamaa ya mabao sana tuache nyuma wazi tufungwe. Its time to protect the lead.