This clash will be the first leg of a two-legged affair in the first preliminary round of the lucrative competition with Gor Mahia set to travel to Cairo to face the former champions in the return leg on September 13th.
Pyramids are expected to arrive in Nairobi on Thursday, September 3rd, to prepare for the encounter. For Gor Mahia, they have been training in Nairobi since returning from Kigali, Rwanda, where they took part in CECAFA Kagame Cup.
The record Kenyan champions will face a Pyramids side that has established itself among the continent’s leading clubs in recent seasons.
The Egyptian outfit won its maiden CAF Champions League title in 2025 after defeating South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns 3-2 on aggregate in the final.
Akonnor, who guided Gor Mahia to their 22nd league title in his first season in charge, believes with a disciplined display, and the team playing together, K’Ogalo have a good chance to get a positive advantage to carry to Cairo.
‘Pyramids have good players’
“We have to be disciplined, stay together and fight for every ball. If we do what we have been training and play with confidence, then we can get a positive result,” said Akonnor as quoted by Gor Mahia’s official website.
“Pyramids have good players and they have experience in African competitions. We respect them and this match will also give our players a chance to fight for their places in the national team.”
Last season, Pyramids’ journey in the competition was halted after a 2-1 home defeat to Morocco’s FAR Rabat sealed a 3-2 aggregate victory to deny the Egyptian side a semi-final spot.
“It is another opportunity to showcase what we have, we are doing it against a very good side and we are preparing adequately and the players are getting it right and I believe we are capable of doing it,” added the Ghanaian coach.
On Gor Mahia’s readiness, Akonnor said: “The preparations are going on very well. We know we are facing a very good team, they are a very tough team, but we are also a good team and we have been preparing well for this match.
“We have been working on our tactics, our fitness and also the mental aspect because these are the kind of matches where you need to be fully prepared. We know what is expected of us on Sunday.”
Gor Mahia injury news
Gor Mahia has confirmed the return of forward Patrick Essombe, who has been struggling with injury. According to the club’s doctor Brian Odongo, Essombe has fully recovered from an ankle injury and is now back in contention for selection.
“Patrick (Essombe) has fully recovered from his ankle injury and is now training well and available for selection,” said Odongo.
On the defensive front, Sylvester Owino is also making significant progress after sustaining a muscle injury during the same tournament.
“Sylvester (Owino) has made good progress following his calf muscle injury and is currently in the final phase of his rehabilitation with a focus on specific sport-related training as he works toward a full return to competitive football,” added Odongo.
Gor Mahia tickets for Pyramids clash
Gor Mahia have announced the sale of tickets for the first leg clash with the Kenyan champions offering special early bird rates to fans.
“In a bid to encourage early purchases, the club has introduced an early bird offer with regular tickets priced at just KSh200, VIP – KSh1,000 and VVIP at KSh2,000,” read a statement from the club.
“The promotional rate will be available for five days, with the deadline set for midnight on Sunday.”
The statement continued: “Regular tickets will go for KSh300 and for fans seeking a more premium experience, VIP tickets are priced at KSh1,500, while VVIP seats are set at KSh3,000.
“In a special offering, the club has also made available presidential area tickets at KSh10,000. However, only 30 such tickets will be available for purchase, making them a highly exclusive option for the match.”
In line with strict CAF guidelines, the club has confirmed that no tickets will be sold on match day. Fans are strongly urged to buy their tickets early to avoid disappointment.
“As per CAF regulations, there will be no tickets sold at the stadium on the day of the match (Sunday). We appeal to all our supporters to secure their tickets in advance,” stated the club Secretary Nic Arum.
The winner of the two-legged contest will advance to the second preliminary round, where they will face either South Sudan’s El Merreikh Bentiu or Somalia’s Heegan FC.
