- Gor Mahia Head coach Charles Akonnor has warned his team to completely forget their 5-0 win over APR FC
- He emphasized that Vipers SC will present a much tougher and entirely different challenge.
- Gor Mahia will take on Vipers on Monday, July 27, 2026
Gor Mahia head coach Charles Akonnor has warned his squad to expect a completely different tactical battle against Uganda’s Vipers SC, demanding a fresh approach and a swift shift in mentality despite their explosive start to the tournament.
K’Ogalo opened their 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup Group A campaign in blistering fashion, dismantling home side APR FC 5-0 at the Amahoro Stadium.
However, speaking at the pre match press conference ahead of Monday’s cmatch against the Ugandan giants, Akonnor made it clear that his side cannot afford to rest on their laurels.
The tactician acknowledged that a convincing win means very little now that their regional rivals have had a clear look at Gor Mahia’s tactical framework.
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“The fact that we won 5-0 in our first match does not mean it’s going to be a repetition,” Akonnor warned.Moreover, the opponent has seen us, and so it’s going to be tough. It’s going to be difficult, but we will find the right mentality and the right approach to this game, and hopefully, we’ll come out good.”
Vipers SC also head into the fixture on the back of a winning start having defeated Djibouti’s Garde Républicaine 3-0.
Akonnor highlighted the technical quality of the Venoms, noting that the Ugandan champions possess the necessary pedigree to penalize any complacency.
“Like I said, it’s not going to be the same. We’ve seen them; they are very comfortable with the ball and they like to play, so we have a rough idea of how to approach this game,” the coach added.
“We don’t expect the same style or the same play. The field is also different, so it will be important for us to approach this game on a different level—a level that will give us a good result.”
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Echoing his manager’s demands, Gor Mahia defender Mike Kibwage,who scored the opening goal in the demolition of APR, emphasized that the squad has already archived the five-goal thriller to center their focus entirely on the assignment ahead.
“We are so happy about our previous game which we won convincingly, but you are always as good as your next game,” Kibwage stated.
“Tomorrow’s game will be very important because we are tied on points. Winning will give us a massive advantage and open up the gap so we can play the final group match against Garde without any pressure.”
With both heavyweights eyeing the top spot in the group to secure automatic qualification for the knockout stages, Gor Mahia’s ability to adapt will serve as the ultimate litmus test before embarking on their upcoming CAF Champions League assignments.