Will it be ‘mission possible’ for Gor?

Gor Mahia fans in a past match [Courtesy]

Though it is crunch moment in Group D of the CAF Confederations Cup, Kenyan international Humphrey Mieno has set his sights on achieving 'mission possible' with Gor Mahia in Algiers today.

K’Ogalo face the toughest test of their continental competition credentials when they take on USM Alger at 4pm (Kenyan time) as a rejuvenated Rwandan side Rayon Sports welcome bottom rooted Yanga (Tanzania) in another decisive tie in Kigali.

Gor and hosts USM Alger (8) are separated by goals scored at the top of the group with Gor having complicated their quarter-finals qualification chances after falling 2-1 to Rayon. USM also lost to Yanga by the same scoreline.

And to progress to the knock-out stage of the competition, the record Kenyan champions must defeat, but will still rely on the result in Kigali. Rayon are third in the group with six points, meaning, only a healthy win will guarantee them a quarter-final berth.

Gor Mahia playmaker Humphrey Mieno [COURTESY]

But both Gor Mahia and USM Alger go into the match beaming with confidence after winning their respective matches at the weekend.

While a fringe Gor Mahia side overcame eternal rivals AFC Leopards 2-0 to claim their unprecedented 17th Premier League title on Saturday, USM beat Hussein Dey 1-0 to secure their second win in a row in Ligue 1.

Gor coach Dylan Kerr rested all his regular players for the Mashemeji derby.

However, even as many are fearing of a massacre for K’Ogalo following a bad history for Kenyan teams in North Africa,  Mieno has refused to give up on the continental dream urging his teammates to replicate what Rayon did and make the mission impossible possible. Rayon frustrated USM to a 1-1 draw in Algiers last month.

“We hope to pick ourselves and get good results away from home"- Mieno

“We hope to pick ourselves and get good results away from home. After the Rayon performance, we must face USM bravely regardless of the history there. We are big players and we must show that with the performance,” Mieno told The Standard Sports.

“It’s a massive game for both teams, but it’s mathematically still possible. I believe destiny is in our own hands. There’s a lot of hype around the game, but we have to forget that and play our own game. If Rayon did it, we can also pull a result there.”

The Kenyan international’s sentiments were echoed by Burundian import Francis Mustafa.

“In football, everything is possible. It is good to go there as underdogs, but let them not write us off. We are fully aware of the situation we are in. There is no giving up,” said Mustafa.