Gor Mahia’s continental opponents have arrived in Nairobi ahead of their CAF Confederation Cup encounter on Sunday.
The Kenyan champions will lock horns with Zambian rivals Napsa Stars at the Nyayo Stadium in the playoff round of the African Confederation Cup and K’Ogalo will look to go in all guns blazing for a place in the group stages of the competition.
Coming back from a goalless stalemate in the Mashemeji derby on Sunday, Gor Mahia will look to maintain their unbeaten record and secure three points before jetting off to Zambia or the second leg on 21 February.
Napsa have confirmed via their official Twitter account that the team has arrived in Nairobi, and are currently underway with their preparations ahead of the match against Gor Mahia.
The Pensioners, however, traveled without two of their key players Bornwell Mwape and Emmanuel Mayuka who also missed the club’s FAZ/MTN Super League clash against Nkwazi FC on Sunday.
Kenyan duo of goalkeeper Shaban Odhoji and defender David ‘Calabar’ Owino were among the 24-man squad that arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 1500hrs EAT.
Ugandan arbiter William Oloya will be the Centre Referee for Gor Mahia’s clash against Napsa Stars and will be assisted by his compatriots Lee Okello (First Assistant Referee), Isa Masembe (Second Assistant Referee), and Chelanget Ali Sabila (Fourth Official).
Alexis Redamptus Nshimiyimana from Rwanda will serve as the Match Commissioner while Wycliffe Makanga, who doubles up as the Harambee Stars’ Team Doctor, will serve as the Covid-19 Officer.
Napsa eliminated Malawian side UD Songo on the away goals rule in their Confederation Cup first round fixture, playing to a 0-0 draw in Lusaka on 22 December 2020 before securing a 1-1 draw in Blantyre on 6 January 2021.
For Gor Mahia, they dropped to the second-tier competition after losing 8-1 on aggregate to Algerian side CR Belouizdad in the second preliminary round of the Champions League.
The Kenyan champions suffered a humiliating 6-0 defeat against the North African giants in the first leg played in Algiers and then returned home to lose 2-1.
A win for Napsa in the two-legged tie will earn them a place in the group stages of the competition.
Napsa squad:
Goalkeepers: Phillip Banda, Shaban Odhoji, Rabson Muchelenganga
Defenders: David Odhiambo, Luka Banda, Luka Nguni, Aaron Kabwe, Lawrence Chungu, Bornwell Silengo, Amos Simwanza,
Midfielders: Jacob Ngulube, Daniel Adoko, Dickson Chapa, Simon Nhkata, Enock Sabumukama, Austine Banda, Aaron Banda.
Strikers: Chanda Mushili, Laudit Mavugo, Jimmy Mukeya, Doiy Soko, Tapon Kaseba.
