Gor Mahia assistant captain on how late league kick-off affected performance against Pyramids

The two first-half strikes proved decisive as Pyramids secured a comfortable away victory and put themselves firmly in control of the tie ahead of the second leg. Kibwage, who captained Gor Mahia in the absence of injured skipper Sylvester Owino, believes the lack of competitive football put the record league champions at a disadvantage against a Pyramids side already in the thick of domestic league action. 'I think it played a factor because they have played like two or three matches, which gives them the edge. When you play competitive matches, it gives you the edge to be more competitive, a morale booster and rhythm to play top matches,' Kibwage said in a post-match interview. The 2026/27 season remains in limbo amid legal disputes surrounding the regulations governing promotion and relegation. The campaign was initially scheduled to kick off on Saturday, 22 August, before being pushed back to Saturday, 29 August. However, despite the High Court in Murang'a allowing FKF to proceed using the 2019 regulations, the league has yet to get underway, with another case scheduled for determination on Monday, 21 September. Kibwage, however, drew encouragement from Gor Mahia's second-half display, insisting the performance could provide the team with the belief needed to mount a comeback in Egypt. After conceding twice before the break, K'Ogalo tightened up defensively and enjoyed spells of dominance after the interval, probing for a way back into the contest but ultimately failing to find the breakthrough.