Gor Mahia boss Leo Neiva explains how cruel Champions League exit has helped his players

Gor Mahia head coach Leo Martins Neiva has urged the club’s fans to accept the team’s CAF Champions League exit at the hands of emphasising the valuable lessons his players gained from facing the African giants. 

s campaign came to an abrupt end after suffering a 6-0 aggregate defeat, with losses of 3-0 in both legs against the Egyptian powerhouse.

In the first leg, held in Nairobi, Gor Mahia struggled to keep up with Al Ahly’s relentless attack, falling 3-0 behind. The return leg in Cairo saw the Kenyan side hoping for a miraculous comeback, but Al Ahly’s dominance proved insurmountable. 

Gor Mahia boss Leo Neiva has explained what he learnt about his side following their heavy thrashing at the hands of Al Ahly in the first leg of their CAF Second Preliminary encounter in Nairobi last Sunday.

Goals from Rami Rabia, Wessam Abou Ali, and substitute winger Taher Mohamed Taher sealed another 3-0 defeat, confirming Gor Mahia’s exit from the tournament.

Speaking after the loss, Neiva remained optimistic about the experience gained by his players despite the disappointing result.

 «We must accept the defeat and move on. We played against a strong Al Ahly side; their football is on another level,» Neiva stated to

«But I believe the two games we played against them have provided my players with a lot of experience and exposed them to the reality of football in Africa.»

Neiva highlighted that the matchups with Al Ahly served as a harsh yet invaluable learning curve for his squad, who had to contend with one of Africa’s most successful and seasoned teams.

 The exposure to Al Ahly’s high level of play demonstrated the gap between Gor Mahia and the continent’s elite, but it also served as a motivational tool for the players to improve.

The Brazilian coach emphasised that the encounters with the Egyptian giants were not just about results but about growth and development. He hopes that the experience will galvanise his players to elevate their game as they return to domestic competitions.

While Gor Mahia’s journey in the Champions League ended in heartbreak, Neiva believes the lessons learned on the field against a top-tier opponent like Al Ahly will serve his players well in the future.

 For Neiva and his team, the challenge now is to turn this experience into motivation as they work towards closing the gap with Africa’s elite clubs.