Gor Mahia, Tusker learn continental opponents in CAF draw

Kenyan giants Gor Mahia and Tusker FC have learned the opponents standing between them and a return to the lucrative group stages of African club football after Thursday's CAF interclub competitions draw handed both sides challenging preliminary round fixtures.

Gor Mahia headline the country's CAF Champions League campaign with a daunting first preliminary round clash against reigning African champions Pyramids FC of Egypt.

The record league champions, placed in Level Five due to their recent continental coefficient ranking, will host the first leg between September 4 and 6 before travelling to Egypt for the return fixture from September 11 to 13.

Victory over the Egyptian heavyweights would see K'Ogalo face either South Sudan's El Merreikh Bentiu or Somalia's Heegan FC in the second preliminary round, with the aggregate winner securing a coveted place in the Champions League group stage.

The draw presents Gor Mahia with arguably one of the daunting tasks of the opening round. Despite remaining a dominant force domestically, the club has struggled to make a deep run in Africa in recent years, with financial challenges, FIFA transfer restrictions and logistical hurdles affecting consistency on the continental stage.

In the 2024/2025 season, Gor impressed by navigating the early qualifying rounds before narrowly falling to Egyptian powerhouse Al Ahly in the second preliminary round.

Meanwhile, Tusker FC will represent Kenya in the CAF Confederation Cup after being paired against Sudan's Al Ahli Madani in the opening preliminary round.

Should the Brewers overcome the Sudanese side, they will face either Sudan's Al Ghazala SC or Tanzania's Singida Black Stars in the decisive second preliminary round, where a place in the group stage will be at stake.

Tusker will be hoping to end a run of frustrating continental campaigns. Their most recent appearance in the Confederation Cup saw them miss out on the group stage after a narrow playoff defeat to Tunisia's CS Sfaxien, while previous Champions League campaigns ended against continental heavyweights Zamalek and Mauritian side AS Port-Louis 2000.

With both Kenyan representatives facing demanding routes, their preliminary round performances will be crucial in determining whether Kenya returns to the group stages of either CAF club competition for the 2026/27 season.