Kenyan champions Gor Mahia are three points away from progressing to the quarter-finals of the CAF Confederations Cups despite losing 4-0 to Zamalek in their penultimate group stage match last weekend.
Gor were humiliated by the Egyptian giants on Sunday in Cairo to sink to the bottom of Pool D with six points but the 17-time Kenyan champions will seal a place in the last eight should they beat Petro Atletico of Angola in the final match.
Zamalek, who prior to the match, were pegged at the rock bottom of the group with five points scored twice in either half to avenge their first leg 4-2 loss in Nairobi as well resuscitate their final eight hopes.
Mohammed Alaa broke the deadlock for Zamalek barely 12 minutes into the game before Youssef Obama doubled the scores in the 26th minute. Ferjan Sausi and Omar Elsaid netted in the 84th and 86th minutes of the game to complete the routine for the home side.
Despite the upset in Egypt, K’Ogalo who are set to host Atletico on Sunday at the Moi Stadium, Kasarani will register their name in the last eight should they beat the Angolan side—an outcome which will see them take their tally to nine points.
With the best two teams in each pool guaranteed a place in the quarters, Gor’s loss in Egypt opened the pool as Zamalek lead with eight points while NA Hussein Dey of Algeria and Atletico, who rank second and third, have seven points apiece.
A win at home for Gor will lock out both Atletico and the loser between Hussein and Zamalek. Hussein Dey and Zamalek are set to square it out in Algiers, where the winner will sail to the next round. Zamalek have an upper hand ahead of the match as a draw of any kind is all that they need to proceed.
Gor will be buoyed by the home comfort when they play Atletico in Nairobi and will welcome back the trio of George Odhiambo, Joash Onyango and Shafiq Batambuze to the squad after serving their suspensions for accumulating yellow cards.
Hasan Oktay charges recorded 4-2 and 2-0 home wins against Zamalek and Hussein Dey and will hope to revenge the 2-1 loss suffered in Luanda when the Angolans visit for the final group stage match.
