Controversial officiating sparked outrage after Gor Mahia's denied goal in their Caf Confederations Cup clash against Algeria's NA Hussein Dey, with TV replays showing the Kenyan side appeared to score.
The incident occurred in the 59th minute when Ugandan defender Shafiq Batambuze headed in Francis Kahata's corner, but the Malian referee ruled the play dead for a foul on goalkeeper Gayw Merbah. Replays revealed Merbah collided with a teammate, though the official, positioned near the action, disallowed the goal.
Fans of Gor Mahia flooded social media with criticism of the referee's decision, questioning the fairness of the match against North African opponents. The loss dropped Gor to second in Group D with six points, one behind NA Hussein Dey, who now hold the top spot after securing their second group-stage victory.
Gor Mahia's path to the quarterfinals remains challenging. They must win away against Zamalek this weekend to keep their chances alive, while NA Hussein Dey faces Petro Atletico in Angola. A win for the Algerians would ease their route to the next stage, requiring only a draw against Zamalek in their final group match.
The Kenyan champions entered the match without first-choice goalkeeper Boniface Oluoch, forcing coach Hassan Oktay to start Fredrick Odhiambo. While Odhiambo made several key saves, NA Hussein Dey's Abderrahmane Yousfi scored the only goal of the game in the ninth minute.
With Caf's head-to-head tiebreaker rules in effect, Gor Mahia's lack of away points complicates their prospects. They will need a win or a draw in Cairo, while hoping for a favorable result in the Angola match. Zamalek, now third in the group, aims to secure their second win and avenge a 4-2 loss to Gor in Nairobi last month.
Gor Mahia's final group stage match is scheduled for March 17 against Petro Atletico at Moi Stadium, Kasarani.
