The odds may be stacked heavily against Gor Mahia, but the Kenyan champions have 90 minutes to prove that football does not always follow the script when they face Pyramids FC in the second leg of their CAF Champions League first preliminary-round tie in Cairo tonight.

Gor travel to the 30 June Stadium trailing 2-0 from last weekend’s first leg at Nyayo National stadiumand must produce a remarkable turnaround to keep their continental campaign alive.

A three-goal victory would take Gor through to the next round, while a two-goal win would force extra time. Should the aggregate score remain level after 120 minutes, penalties will determine the winner.

Pyramids appear to have almost every advantage. They have won all five of their competitive matches this season without conceding and sit top of the Egyptian Premier League with a perfect 12 points from four games. Their latest result was a 1-0 victory over El Gouna on Wednesday.

Gor, meanwhile, arrived in Cairo searching for consistency. Charles Akonnor’s side have gone seven matches without a win in regular time,the matches include friendlies against Police Fc , El Merriekh and Migori Youth , Super cup defeat to Tusker and Cecafa kagame cup final defeat by Rayon Sports and regular time draw in Semi final against Al Hilal Omdurman. While defensive mistakes have hurt them in recent outings. They have conceded twice in the first half in each of their last three competitive matches; against Rayon Sports ,Tusker Fc and Pyramids.

Akonnor nevertheless believes his players can respond to the challenge after using their final preparations to address the mistakes that cost them in Nairobi.

“It’s a tough one, but everything is possible in football. I believe in the boys, I believe in our preparation, and so we’re looking forward to tomorrow’s match,” Akonnor said after the final training session.

The Ghanaian coach admitted that the errors in the opening leg were unacceptable at this level, but insisted the team has worked on the details required to avoid another difficult outing.

“The mistakes we made last time were too clear and too obvious, and a team of that level shouldn’t do that mistake. However, it has happened, and we are looking forward to tomorrow’s match,” he said.

Gor winger Shariff Musa also refuses to write off his side, calling for the right mentality in what promises to be a difficult evening.

“In the first leg it didn’t go on well. In the second leg we are trying to compose ourselves and go for the win,” Musa said. “It’s a game of 90 minutes. Everything is possible in football, and those considered underdogs can cause an upset. We have to go with the right attitude.”

Defender Frank Odhiambo believes Gor have enough quality to make the Egyptians uncomfortable if they limit their mistakes and take their opportunities.

“We are also coming for a win so that we can push a narrative that we are a team to be looked at,” Odhiambo said. “We are looking to come into the game and make sure we minimize our mistakes and capitalize on our chances.”

In terms of Team news, Gor Mahia is still without Long term injuries as Samuel Kapen who is out with ligament damage sustained during the Cecafa Kagame Cup tournament, Felix Oluoch who’s continuing his rehabilitation following ACL surgery , Captain Silvester Owino who is out due to knee injury and Enock Machaka who is serving a suspension from CAF competition after receiving a red card last season while playing for Nairobi United in CAF Confederation cup.

On paper, it is a mission that looks close to impossible. Pyramids have the lead, home advantage and a perfect defensive record this season.

Yet Gor Mahia only need one thing to change the story: an early goal. From there, the pressure shifts, belief grows and football can take the game somewhere nobody expected.

The odds say no. Football says maybe.