Gor Mahia star out as K'Ogalo depart for Nigeria

Gor Mahia will miss the services of combative midfielder Ernest Wendo in the reverse fixture of their Caf Champions League first round against Lobi Stars of Nigeria set for Saturday at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu state.

A 26-man contingent left for Lagos at 8.10am aboard Kenya Airways. They will make a stop over in Accra, Ghana on their way to Lagos. They will then need a 45-minute flight to Enugu state.

The squad consists of 18 players, five technical bench members led by head coach Hassan Oktay and three officials where vice chairman John Pesa is the head of delegation.

Wendo is suspended having picked his second booking in the competition in their 3-1 win over Lobi Stars on Sunday at Kasarani.

The Kenyan giants need to avoid defeat or lose by less than two goals to book a historic berth in the group stage in the restructured first tier African club championship.

The group stage comes with Sh56 million prize money and a further Sh66 million if they reach the quarterfinals.

Winners take home a cool Sh256 million.

K’Ogalo saw off Malawi side Nyasa Big Bullets in the preliminary round.

Losers in this round will drop to the Caf Confederation Cup, where the 16 first round winners of this second tier competition await.

TRAVELLING SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Boniface Oluoch and Fredrick Odhiambo

Defenders: Harun Shakava, Philemon Otieno, Joash Onyango, Wellington Ochieng, Shafik Batambuze, Pascal Ogweno

Midfielders: Humphrey Mieno, Kenneth Muguna, Samuel Onyango, Boniface Omondi, Francis Kahata, George “Blackberry” Odhiambo, Cercidy Okeyo

Strikers: Erisa Ssekisambu, Jacques Tuyisenge, Francis Mustafa

Technical bench: Hassan Okay (head coach), Zedekiah Otieno (assistant coach), Jolawi Obondo (team manager), Willis Ochieng’ (goalkeeper trainer), Fredrick Otieno (team doctor)

Officials: John Pesa (vice chairman), Lordvick Aduda (CEO) and Kelvin Elegwa (FKF)