Gor Mahia, the reigning champions of the Kenyan Premier League, will not be participating in the 2023-24 CAF Champions League.
The Kenyan Football Federation (FKF) has denied the club a club license, leading to their exclusion from the prestigious African club competition. This decision was made ahead of the draw scheduled for Tuesday.
Gor Mahia secured their spot in the qualifying rounds of the CAF Champions League by narrowly clinching their 20th Kenyan Premier League title, edging out Tusker by a single point on the final day of the season. However, their participation was thwarted due to issues arising from their failure to meet the requirements set forth by FIFA and CAF.
The club was found in violation of FIFA and CAF regulations for neglecting to pay outstanding dues to three of their former players: Sando Yangayay, Jules Ulimwengu, and Adama Keita. These players reported Gor Mahia’s non-compliance to the governing bodies of world football.
Despite efforts by the FKF to intervene and persuade Gor Mahia to fulfill their obligations, the club failed to meet the deadline set for settling the dues, resulting in their disqualification from the continental tournament in accordance with FIFA and CAF rules.
The FKF had hoped that Tusker, the league’s runner-up, would take Gor Mahia’s place in the CAF Champions League. Unfortunately, the request came too late, and the spot remained vacant.
“It was an inevitable outcome. The Federation made significant efforts to avert this situation, but Gor Mahia did not take heed,” revealed an inside source from the FKF, speaking to Capital Sport, via African football news
Gor Mahia’s exclusion serves as a reminder to all football clubs about the importance of complying with the licensing requirements set by governing bodies, which are designed to ensure fair play, transparency, and accountability within the sport. For now, fans of the Kenyan giants will have to wait for another opportunity to witness their team compete on the continental stage.
