NAIROBI, Kenya, August 21, 2026 – Gor Mahia head coach Charles Akonnor believes his charges have it in them to beat Egyptian giants Pyramids FC in the Caf Champions League, despite the gulf in quality between the two.
An unusual scenario for the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League champions, Akonnor concedes K’Ogalo are like midgets compared to the North African moneybags.
Regardless, his conviction is on the overdrive, that the 1987 Africa Cup Winners Cup champions can do the impossible in this ‘David vs Goliath’ battle.
“Indeed they are giants, but in football everything is possible. What is right is also for us to make sure we play well and win, especially in our first leg which is in Kenya, and see how best we can do in Egypt,” the Ghanaian said.
The two teams clash in the first leg on the weekend of September 4-5 in what will be a litmus test for the Kenyan champions’ mettle to mix it up with the creme-de-la-creme of African football.
Akonnor admits he was not expecting a tough opponent, such as the Pyramids, in the first preliminary round of the continental competition.
“We weren’t expecting an opponent like that; I thought we could play within the region and then move forward. But, this is what we face, we come across and we have to face that in good faith, believing that when you do the right things at the right time, we have a chance,” the former Ghana national team head coach said.
K’Ogalo’s record against Egyptian opposition makes for a sombre reading; of the 12 matches against them, they have only won twice, drawn thrice and lost seven times.
Both of their victories have come against Zamalek SC who they beat 1-0 in the first leg of the defunct Caf Cup (now known as Confederations Cup) in Nairobi, before losing 4-0 away.
In 2019, a Dennis Oliech brace spurred them to a 4-2 win in a group stage tie of the Confederations Cup at the Nyayo Stadium.
Could Pyramids FC become the next Egyptian giant to fall at the hands of ‘Nyamridhi?’
