Gor Mahia head coach Leonardo Martin Neiva remained optimistic about his team’s performance despite a 3-0 home defeat to Egyptian giants Al Ahly in the first leg of the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League. The match, held at Nyayo Stadium, saw Gor Mahia struggle to contain the 12-time African champions, who capitalized on defensive mistakes to secure a crucial win in Nairobi.
Ramy Rabia opened the scoring for Al Ahly early in the first half, followed by a quick brace from Percy Tau, who sealed Gor Mahia’s fate before halftime. The scoreline, however, did not tell the full story, according to Neiva, who insisted that his team had performed better than the result suggested.
“We actually played good football throughout the game,” Neiva told the media during his post-match press conference. “If you look at the match as a whole, Gor Mahia had some good moments. We controlled parts of the game but unfortunately conceded from mistakes that could have been avoided.”
Neiva, who took charge of Gor Mahia ahead of the 2024/2025 season, expressed disappointment over the goals his team allowed but was quick to defend his players. The 46-year-old Brazilian emphasized that despite the loss, Gor Mahia demonstrated resilience and put in a solid effort, especially given the quality of the opposition.
Aggressive Tactical Changes
One of the key talking points of the match was Neiva’s tactical approach after going down early. After Al Ahly’s second goal, Neiva opted to change Gor Mahia’s formation, switching from a more defensive setup to an attacking strategy in an attempt to get back into the game.
“We threw caution to the wind,” Neiva explained. “In the first half, I decided to push more players forward towards the end, and in the second half, we changed our system to a 3-3-4 formation. Rooney and Chris played as central strikers while Sharif Musa and Kapen operated as wide players.”
The decision to go all-out on the attack, particularly after falling behind, was an effort to increase Gor Mahia’s chances of finding a way back into the game. Neiva believed that the adjustments were necessary to counter Al Ahly’s defensive stance in the second half, as the Egyptian side dropped deeper and allowed Gor Mahia to control more possession.
Reflecting on Mistakes
While Gor Mahia showed flashes of good football, their defensive lapses ultimately proved costly. Neiva acknowledged that the game took a decisive turn when Gor Mahia conceded twice in quick succession due to avoidable errors.
“We started the game well, and in the first 10 minutes, we had the upper hand,” Neiva said. “But after that, we allowed them to settle into the game and take control. The first goal came from our own mistake, and then the second goal followed almost immediately. That made the game very difficult for us.”
Despite the setback, Neiva encouraged his players to move beyond the errors and focus on playing with confidence for the remainder of the match. His message to the team was clear: to forget the mistakes and start enjoying the game, an approach aimed at reducing pressure on the players.
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Tactical Substitutions
In addition to his tactical changes, Neiva made two key substitutions in the first half, replacing Kennedy Onyango and captain Philemon Otieno. While the substitutions raised questions, Neiva clarified that the changes were purely tactical and not due to any injuries.
“They were tactical decisions,” Neiva said. “At that point in the game, it didn’t make sense to keep three center backs plus Philemon, who was close to the central defense. We had already conceded two goals, so we needed to adjust and play a more offensive system.”
The coach’s tactical flexibility demonstrated his willingness to adapt based on the flow of the game, even if the decisions did not lead to an immediate comeback.
Looking Ahead to Cairo
Despite the heavy defeat, Neiva remained hopeful as Gor Mahia looks ahead to the second leg, scheduled to be played at the Al Salam Stadium in Cairo on September 21. Gor Mahia will need a massive turnaround to overturn the 3-0 deficit and progress to the next stage of the competition.
“It’s going to be a tough challenge,” Neiva admitted. “But we’re not giving up. We will go to Cairo with a plan, and we’ll do our best to try and get the result we need. Football is unpredictable, and anything can happen.”
The return leg against Al Ahly presents a daunting task, but Neiva believes his team can learn from the mistakes made in the first leg and put up a more competitive performance in Egypt. With Gor Mahia’s Champions League hopes on the line, the Kenyan champions will need to produce one of their best displays of the season to stay in the tournament.
As the second leg looms, Gor Mahia’s focus will be on regrouping and preparing for the formidable challenge that awaits them in Cairo.
