NAIROBI, April 19-- Kenyans hailed the progression of Gor Mahia FC to the CAF Confederations Cup group stages on Thursday, celebrating the club for defying all odds to eliminate South African side, SuperSport United. Shortly before 10pm local time the record 16-time domestic league winners almost broke the Internet when the final whistle of their second leg play-off went in Pretoria to confirm their qualification. Despite losing 2-1 at the Lucas Moripe Stadium, Gor advanced on the away goals rule with the tie ending 2-2 on aggregate. becoming the first Kenyan outfit since 1994 to qualify for the group stages of a CAF competition. Without live broadcast in Kenya, social media provided the ideal platform as local fans went crazy online with tributes to Gor, flooding the Internet all night long and through Thursday. The feat was even more remarkable considering the club departed Nairobi for the return clash on the eve of the game and visa hitches denied them the services of top scorer, Jacques Tuyisenge and Ivorian forward, Ephrem Guikan, who were refused travel documents to South Africa. Cash-strapped Gor were forced to rely on the last minute donation of 30 air tickets and 10,000 U.S. dollars in cash from Nairobi Governor, Mike Sonko, to make the trip. "I understand Gor are through to the group stages of the CAF Confederations Cup. Congratulations and I will continue to offer my support to the team until we win this cup," Sonko posted on Twitter moments after the final whistle. |