Congolese coach says Nairobi United must be taken "very seriously" in CAF Confederation Cup
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Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 13.11.25. | 11:30
The 49-year-old believes the FKF Premier League side should not be looked down upon having qualified the hard way
AS Maniema Union coach Papy Kimoto says his side will not underestimate any opponent in their 2025-2026 CAF Confederation Cup group, even as he targets to lead them to nothing short of a quarter final spot.
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The Congolese outfit, in its return to the competition, finds itself in Group B alongside African giants Wydad Casablanca, Tanzania’s Azam FC, and Kenya’s Nairobi United.
Kimoto, who was in charge of the team as they got bounced out of the group stages of the CAF Champions League last year, has through his experience learnt better than looking down on competitors, despite their pedigree, or lack of it.
Speaking to CAF Online, Kimoto, whose side scraped through the qualifying stages of the competition against Mauritian club Pamplemousses Sporting Club and Royal Leopards of Eswatini, said: “I am really very happy we now know our opponents for the group stage. These are very talented teams, each of whom earned their place—just like us.”
On paper alone, Moroccan giants Wydad Casablanca stand out as the team to beat in the group, having won the CAF Champions League title three times in its history, most recently in the 2021-2022 season under now Atlas Lions coach Walid Regragui.
Azam and Nairobi United, on the other hand, stand as unknown quantities, given they are making their debuts in the continental scene.
“We will face an African giant: Wydad Athletic Club of Casablanca, a team we respect deeply,” Kimoto said, analysing the group.
“There will also be Azam, who, despite their first participation, are very well organised this year, and Nairobi, who have just eliminated Tunisian heavyweights Étoile du Sahel. These teams must be taken very seriously.”
As per the tournament schedule, Maniema will play its first two matches against the latter two sides - first at home against Azam on Sunday, 23 November, before travelling to Nairobi to face Nairobi United on Sunday, 30 November.
“We have two to three weeks to prepare well and be competitive,” Kimoto said. “We are motivated and ready to take on this challenge.”
Only the top two finishers from every group will proceed to the knock-out ties.
