Caf Confederation Cup Group D Preview: Gor Mahia to open campaign against Rayon Sports

Another match in this Group is between Tanzanian side Young Africans, commonly referred to as Yanga against USM Alger of Algeria

Gor Mahia and Rayon Sports of Rwanda will be the first sides to face each other at the Nyamirambo Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda, on Sunday.

The two teams took part in the Caf Champions League qualifying matches, unfortunately, they were eliminated in the last hurdle.

The Kenyan side was eliminated on a 1-0 aggregate; 0-0 at home and a 1-0 defeat in the second leg. Rayon Sports went past LLB Academy of Burundi in the first leg of the Champions League after winning 2-1 on aggregate.

The Rwandan side however, fell in the last hurdle against South African side Mamelodi Sundowns, drawing 0-0 at home before conceding twice away.

Gor Mahia has been excellent domestically; eight wins and three draws in the eleven league matches puts the side top of the Kenyan Premier League table with 27 points.

Rayon Sports have also been doing quite well, they are currently placed third on the log with 35 points after managing to get ten wins, five draws and three defeats.

This is the first meeting between the two sides in this competition and considering the fact that they were both relegated from the Champions League makes it more exciting.

Gor Mahia left for Kigali on Saturday and will have a feel of the pitch on the same day in readiness for the big clash. A good display by the second string Gor Mahia side against AFC Leopards in the Hull City Challenge has left Coach Dylan Kerr with a good headache on whom to start.

Kerr has acknowledged the striking prowess of Rayon Sports but has confident in his boys. “I watched them play (Rayon Sports) and one thing I picked out is that they have a very good attack but their defense is not very mobile.

"We need to look at how we can take advantage of that but at the same time be careful with our defense on the counter attack.”

Another match in this Group is between Tanzanian side Young Africans, commonly referred to as Yanga against USM Alger of Algeria. The latter is a decent side having reached the finals of the Champions League in 2015.

Yanga is not new in continental competitions, having dominated Tanzania football scene for quite some time. Just like Gor Mahia and Rayon Sports, Yanga was relegated to this competition after falling in the last hurdle against Botswana's St Louis Suns United.

Contrary to the East African side, USM has gone through two sides in this competition to qualify for the Group stages. At home, the North African side has registered a draw and a win, scoring five goals in the process and conceding one while Yanga has registered two away draws and lost once.

Domestically, USM is placed in the fifth position after managing to collect 42 points from the 28 matches while Yanga is third after collecting 48 points from 24 games.