Kenya Police, Nairobi United on the brink of CAF history but poor record in North Africa stands in place

Kenyan football clubs Kenya Police and Nairobi United are 90 minutes away from qualifying to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) inter-club group stage competitions.

If either side makes it to the next stage, history will be made as the first club since record Kenyan champions Gor Mahia in 2018 and 2019 to represent the country at the continental club football bonanza. Gor, fondly known as K’Ogalo defeated South Africa’s Supersport United and New Star from Cameroon respectively in the last qualification stage advancing to the group stage of the CAF Confederations Cup.

However, it won’t be an easy task for the two Kenyan clubs more so Kenya Police. The defending FKFPL champions on Friday last weekend stumbled at home in their CAF Champions League qualifiers after being stunned 1-0 by Al Hilal Omdurman from Sudan.

The law-enforcers in their quest to make history as the first Kenyan side to reach the coveted CAFCL group stage need to beat the record Sudan League champions (31 times) by more than two goals(unanswered) for a chance at the continental showpiece.

A solitary goal by Adama Coulibaly in the second half silenced the Ulinzi Sports Complex leaving police with a mountain to climb. The return leg is set for this weekend at the Martyrs of February Stadium in Benin, Libya. The match will be hosted in Libya due to the civil war in Sudan that has forced Al Hilal to participate in the Super D1, the top-flight of football in Mauritania.

While Police hit a turbulence, Nairobi United took a major step towards reaching the Confederations Cup group phase after stunning 11-time Tunisian champions Etoil Sportive du Sahel two nil at the same venue on Sunday. Goals from Ovella Ochieng and John Otieno, each finding the net in either half respectively left the newly promoted to the FKFPL side and Mozzertbet cup winners on the brink of  repeating Gor’s heroic achievements.

The return leg is scheduled for this Sunday at the 40,000 capacity Stade Olympique de Sousse in Sousse, Tunisia. A draw, win, or a loss by not more than a goal will seal Naibois seat at the continental second tier showpiece.

Despite the advanced chances of one team setting foot in the group stage, North Africa has not been a happy hunting ground for Kenyan football clubs in CAF competitions. Kenyan teams have only won once in 44 matches against North African teams, and once against a Sudanese side.

In 2011, Sofapaka wrote a piece of history after becoming the first Kenyan team to beat a North African side in a continental club competition. Batoto ba Mungu whitewashed Egyptian side Ismaily 4-0 at home to overturn a 2-0 first leg defeat and qualify for Confederation Cup group stages.

Despite the 2-0 advantage, Nairobi United coach Salim Ali is already focusing on the return leg but not with a record in mind. The former Mathare United tactician believes should his players be as committed as they were in the first leg, then history will follow the team to Nairobi.

“I think we are not chasing history, if we can have a very good match in Tunis next week, then I believe history will come by itself,” Ali told Flashscore after the game.

“We wanted to have a different match (from the previous two CAF matches against NEC), we wanted to use a different approach, and I believe if the players can keep the same morale, the same commitment, we will qualify for the group stages, and then again history will come back to Kenya.”

On whether he will deploy a defensive approach to protect the 2-0 advantage in Tunis, he affirmed the team will play similarly to the home match but ‘will have to be very cautious’.

That solitary win against a Sudanese side in CAF competitions came  in October 2021 when Gor Mahia defeated Al Ahli Merowe in Suez, Egypt, during the first leg of the 2021-22 CAF Confederation Cup Second Round encounter. Goals from Samuel Onyango, Benson Omala and Jules Ulimwengu ensured Gor completed a second half comeback to defeat Al Ahly Merowe 3-1.

Despite trailing 1-0 and the poor history, Police FC coach Etienne Ndiyaragijje remains upbeat ahead of Friday evening’s. The Burundian tactician believes his side still has what it takes to stun the Sudanese giants.

“With God, anything is possible. To our fans back home, I urge you to keep supporting us in prayer. I’m confident we’ll get a favorable result,” he said.

Ndiyaragijje noted that his players are in high spirits and fully aware of what is at stake, expressing confidence in their focus and motivation ahead of the decisive clash.

“Our preparation has been good. We’ll have our final training session at the match venue to assess how ready we are, and I’m hopeful everything will go as planned,” he added confirming that his entire squad is available for selection, with no injury concerns reported.

If the both Police and Nairobi United qualify to the group stage of their respective CAF Interclub tournaments, they will take home $700,000 (Ksh90.3m) and $400,000 (Ksh51.6m) respectively.

To this date only Gor Mahia has performed beyond expectations in the CAF competitions. K’Ogalo became the first and only team from the East African region to clinch an African continental title to date, having won the African Cup Winners’ Cup in 1987.