This archive report was first published on 11 August 2019.
On August 11, 2019, Gor Mahia traveled to Bujumbura, Burundi, to face Aigle Noir FC in the preliminary round of the Confederation of African Football (Caf) Champions League at the Intwari Stadium.
Despite being short-handed with only 15 players, the Kenyan team's defense was barely threatened throughout the game.
Forward Nicholas Kipkirui came close to scoring for the visitors on the hour mark, but his effort off the right boot after a well-worked corner routine came off the bar.
With home ground advantage, this outcome puts Gor Mahia in a strong position to progress to the next round ahead of the return leg clash in Nairobi on August 24.
Coach Steve Polack, who handed competitive debuts to several players, including Tanzania goalkeeper David Mapigano and former Sony Sugar midfielder Tobias Otieno, expressed satisfaction with the team's performance.
"I think it went well because we were never in danger of losing," Polack said in his post-match comments.
"We were short of bodies but we found a way to go around that. It's just half-time in this tie and now that we have a feel of what the opposition is capable of, we will prepare for them at home."
