USM Alger player Darfalou Oussama (L) fights for the ball with Zamalek Maroof Yusuf (R) during the 2017 CAF Champions League game between USM Alger and Zamalek at Stade 5 Juillet 1962 in Algiers, Algeria on 21 June 2017 © BackpagePix
by
Graeme Jackson
Thursday Jan 31, 2019. 15:00
Gor Mahia will look to claim a major scalp at the start of their CAF Confederation Cup Group D campaign when they host Zamalek in Nairobi on Sunday. The match is slated for the Moi International Sports Centre, kick-off at 15h00 CAT.
Mahia claimed their place in the group stage of the second-tier continental competition after overcoming Cameroon’s New Star de Douala 2-1 on aggregate in the playoff round.
The Kenyans ‘dropped’ into the Confederation Cup after succumbing to Nigeria’s Lobi Stars only on the away goals in the top-tier CAF Champions League.
Having come so close to reaching the group phase of the premier competition, K’Ogalo and coach Hassan Oktay will be determined to put on a strong showing in the Confed Cup.
However, Oktay comes into the match under major pressure after his side’s slow start to the Kenya Premier League.
Zamalek, meanwhile, claimed their Group D berth after overcoming AS Coton Tchad (7-2 on aggregate) and Morocco’s IR Tanger (3-1 on aggregate) in the first and playoff rounds respectively.
The White Knights have been in fine form both in the Confed Cup and domestic football, where they enjoy a strong position atop the Egyptian Premier League table.
Zamalek coach Christian Gross will hope his side can find top gear for this clash away to Mahia and put them in a strong position ahead of successive home matches later in February.
The other Group D game sees Algeria’s Hussein Dey host Angola’s Petro Atletico later the same evening in Algiers, with kick-off at 21h00 CAT.
Mozambican referee Celso Alvacao will take charge of the match in Nairobi.
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