Pyramids strike twice to put Gor Mahia on the back foot

Walid El Karti opened the scoring in the fifth minute before Mahmoud Saber doubled the advantage just before half-time, leaving Gor with a mountain to climb ahead of the return leg.

Gor had the first clear opportunity of the match in the third minute when Sharif Musa rose to meet a cross, but his header was comfortably cleared by Pyramids goalkeeper Ahmed Naser Mahmoud.

Pyramids responded quickly, with Mostafa Mohamed Fathy testing the Gor Mahia defence two minutes later with a shot from the right wing that went wide.

The Egyptian side were forced into an early change in the 20th minute after Mahmoud Marei Abdelfadil picked up an injury. Eyad El Sayed was introduced in his place.

Mostafa Mohamed came close to extending Pyramids' lead in the 29th minute after dribbling past Gor defenders Frank Odhiambo and Ebenezer Ocran, but his effort was cleared by Gor goalkeeper Byrne Odhiambo.

Gor Mahia coach Charles Akonnor made his first change six minutes before the break, bringing on Ben Stanley for Lesley Owino.

Pyramids, however, struck again on the stroke of half-time when Mahmoud Saber found the back of the net to give the hosts a 2-0 lead at the interval.

Akonnor made another change early in the second half, withdrawing Ebenezer Ocran for Jackson Mulla as Gor sought a way back into the contest.

The visitors continued to push and came close to pulling one back in the 62nd minute when Sharif Musa failed to convert a corner delivered by Jackson Dwang.

Pyramids threatened to put the game beyond Gor's reach in the 76th minute, but Mostafa Ahmed's effort sailed wide.

Gor responded with their third change, introducing Paul Ochuoga for Patrick Essombe as they added more attacking impetus.

Pyramids made their own change two minutes later, bringing on Ahmed Benbouali for Ahmed Saad as they looked to protect their advantage.

The defeat leaves Gor Mahia needing a significantly improved performance in the return leg as they attempt to keep their Champions League campaign alive.

The record 22-time FKF Premier League champions earned their place in the competition after reclaiming the domestic title last season, with Police FC having represented Kenya in the Champions League in the previous campaign.

K’Ogalo went into the encounter without a win in their previous six matches, with their last victory coming against Djiboutian side Garde Républicaine in the third round of the CECAFA Kagame Cup.

Since then, Gor have gone without a win in 90 minutes against Al Hilal Omdurman, Rayon Sports, Al Merrikh, Migori Youth, Tusker and Nairobi United.

Pyramids, meanwhile, came into the tie with strong continental credentials, having won their maiden CAF Champions League title in 2025 after beating Mamelodi Sundowns 3-2 on aggregate.

Their title defence last season ended in the quarter-finals, where they were eliminated by FAR Rabat on a 3-2 aggregate score.

The two sides will meet again in the second leg on September 13 in Cairo.