Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose Rachier remains confident about his team’s chances against record African champions Al Ahly SC in their first-leg clash of the CAF Champions League round of 32 at Nyayo Stadium on Sunday.

K’Ogalo will host the Egyptians, who are strong favorites, but Rachier believes the Kenyan champions shouldn’t be underestimated.

“If you watched our match against El Merriekh Bentiu, I can assure you we’re going to play even better than that. That’s how prepared we are,” Rachier stated confidently.

“People wrote us off after we lost in South Sudan, but after the return leg, they couldn’t believe we could beat them 5-1.”

After a 1-0 loss in Bentiu, South Sudan, in the preliminary first round, Gor Mahia turned the tables with eye-catching football, thumping El Merriekh 5-1 in Nairobi to progress.

K’Ogalo has never faced Al Ahly SC, Africa’s biggest and most successful club, in their 56-year history. However, they have played against Al Ahly’s archrival, Zamalek SC, several times.

“People have written us off, but football is football, and we’re going to do our best, both here and away,” a confident Rachier added, revealing that he has already spoken to the players to motivate them.

Rachier draws inspiration from the 2019 CAF Confederation Cup group stage match, where Gor Mahia won 4-2 against Zamalek SC.

“You don’t go into a match expecting to thrash your opponent. I believe we have what it takes to beat Al Ahly,” he concluded.