Gor Mahia will face Sudanese giants Al-Hilal in the first semi-final of the 2026 CECAFA tournament today at Kigali Pele Stadium, with kick-off slated for 4pm Kenyan time.
Head coach Charles Akonnor expressed deep respect for the Sudanese powerhouse while affirming his side’s belief in their own abilities.
“We are facing an opponent who is well known as far as African football is concerned and we have a lot of respect for them but we are K’Ogalo, and the spirit of Gor Mahia will be with us. We believe we have a very big chance to do well. Our target is to get to the final,” Akonnor said.
The Ghanaian tactician, however, is not resting on his laurels. He is demanding an improved display from his charges, particularly after their last group-stage outing.
“We want to improve in the way we play, an improved performance from our last match. We know their approach will be different because they lost their last match, but we are well prepared,” Akonnor emphasized.
Defender Daniel Sakari, who made his debut for Gor Mahia against APR of Rwanda earlier in the tournament, believes that reaching the semi-final stage is a significant boost for the squad, particularly as they fine-tune their readiness for the upcoming season.
“It’s a good feeling reaching the semi-final of this tournament. For us as a playing unit, we know these are more games for us in the pre-season aside from three good games. That is a plus to us because it will give us preparation for the task ahead, which is the domestic league and the CAF Champions League.”
The defender echoed coach Akonnor’s sentiments, emphasising that every additional match is valuable for building cohesion and match fitness ahead of a grueling campaign.
Despite his confidence, Sakari was quick to acknowledge the quality of their semi-final opponents. Al-Hilal, who boast a rich history in African football, reached the CAF Champions League quarter-finals last season, a testament to their continental pedigree.
“We know we are going to meet a formidable side, a team that has achieved a lot as far as African football is concerned,” Sakari noted. “We know last season they were in the CAF Champions League quarters.”
Today’s semi-final will mark the second meeting between the two sides in the CECAFA tournament. The previous encounter came in the 2024 group stage, where Al-Hilal emerged victorious with a 2-0 win.
