Gor Mahia manager Charles Akonnor has criticised his players for failing to follow his tactical instructions during their 2-0 defeat to Pyramids FC in the CAF Champions League.
Walid El Karti and Mahmoud Saber scored to give the Egyptian side a commanding advantage in the first leg of their preliminary-round tie in Kenya on Sunday.
Akonnor believes the result could have been different had his players stuck to the game plan they had worked on in training.
“We trained and did very well, but when we played on Sunday, they didn’t follow my instructions,” Akonnor told Nation Sport, according to Pulse Sports Kenya.
The former Ghana coach stressed that players must follow their manager’s instructions during matches rather than rely on their own decisions.
“It is professionalism to do what the coach instructs rather than what you feel as a player on the pitch. That is why we lost,” he said.
Akonnor also pointed to the impact of his second-half changes, arguing that Gor Mahia improved once the players began implementing his instructions.
“You saw when I made changes, became angry, and instructed them to play my style; we changed the tempo of the game,” he added.
The coach felt Pyramids were allowed to dominate because Gor Mahia failed to execute the planned approach.
“Had they done what I instructed, Pyramids wouldn’t have dominated and played like they were the home team,” Akonnor said.
He identified the midfield as another major problem for Gor Mahia, saying the team’s struggles in that area allowed Pyramids to take control of the contest.
“We performed poorly in the midfield, and that was our source of weakness which allowed them into the game,” he added.
Despite the two-goal deficit, Akonnor has refused to concede that Gor Mahia’s Champions League campaign is over.
The Kenyan champions will travel to New Cairo for the second leg on Sunday, knowing they must overturn the 2-0 scoreline to progress to the second preliminary round.
Akonnor believes a comeback remains possible but insists his players must show greater belief and courage.
“In football, everything is possible, but the players have to believe in themselves,” he said.
“Without courage, self-belief and confidence, they won’t go anywhere.”
