FALSE 10: A look at Nairobi United's meteoric rise to the CAF Confederation Cup
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Reading Time: 3min | Tue. 28.10.25. | 20:05
In just under a decade, Nairobi United have undergone a remarkable transformation from a little-known lower-league club to a beacon of hope for Kenyan football
Just under three seasons ago, a simple murmur of Nairobi United in a conversation with ardent Kenyan football fans would have left many puzzled as to which team was being referenced.
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Fast forward to October 2025, and Naibois, as they are fondly referred to, have been thrust out of oblivion as they are set to rub shoulders with elite African clubs after qualifying for the CAF Confederation Cup at their maiden attempt.
To put his remarkable achievement into perspective, they become only the second Kenyan side to punch a ticket to Africa’s second-tier club competition after record league champions Gor Mahia, underscoring their meteoric rise.
Even by their lofty standards, it took Gor Mahia 14 years to qualify for the CAF Confederation Cup since the inception of the tournament back in 2004, four years more than Nairobi United have been in existence.
In just under a decade, Nairobi United have undergone a remarkable transformation from a little-known lower-league club to a beacon of hope for Kenyan football and a possible case study for teams within and beyond borders.
Formed in 2015 as a modest side in the dusty pitches of Athi River, EPZ Balaji, as they were then known, spent arduous years toiling in the lower divisions but harbouring grandiose dreams of one day gracing the FKF Premier League just like every lower-tier club.
They, however, welcomed a huge change in fortunes when Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, through his foundation, purchased and rebranded the team to Nairobi United, injecting new life, leadership, vision and a bold new chapter.
The team's last six months, however, reads like a script straight from a contemporary fiction novel, as they have defied all odds to qualify for the Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL), fuelled by a youthful squad and a determined coach in Nicholas Muyoti.
They graced the promised land after clinching the National Super League (NSL) title, marching to the crown by suffering only five defeats all season, a mean feat in a league often referred to as the toughest in Kenya.
Nairobi United’s 2024-2025 season will forever be etched in history after a giant-slaying run in the Mozzart Bet Cup culminated in them lifting the silverware and earning a slot in the CAF Confederation Cup.
Along the way, they claimed huge scalps in the shape of KCB FC, Tusker FC, 2023 Mozzart Bet Cup champions Kakamega Homeboyz and Gor Mahia in a thrilling final staged at Ulinzi Sports Complex.
It is in the Confederation Cup, however, that Nairobi United saw their burgeoning reputation swell even further after knocking out Ugandan outfit NEC FC 3-3 on away goals rule to set up a clash against Étoile du Sahel.
The two-time Confederation Cup winners became the latest victims of Nairobi United’s giant-slaying run, which ended in dramatic fashion.
After a 2-0 victory in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi United had a momentous task on their plate of securing victory in North Africa, a notoriously difficult place to register success, as you can ask Mamelodi Sundowns.
Despite suffering a 2-0 loss, which included a sixth-minute stoppage-time looping header by Ghofrane Naouali, Nicholas Muyoti’s men refused to be dampened as they had their goalkeeper, Kevin Oduor, to thank.
The shotstopper produced a memorable performance in the shootouts, saving two penalties and scoring the decisive kick that earned Nairobi United a place in the CAF Confederation Cup and a Ksh51 million windfall.
Their gigantuan efforts have even caught the attention of President William Ruto, who could not hide his adulation after the historic achievement.
“The people of Kenya stand immensely proud of Nairobi United Football Club for their historic qualification to the CAF Confederation Cup group stage.
This remarkable achievement, forged in courage, discipline, and unyielding fortitude, has ignited the spirit of our nation and reaffirmed Kenya’s rightful place on Africa’s football map,” said the President.
And with that, continental club football returns to Kenya for the first time since 2019, proof that vision, investment, and resilience can rewrite destiny.
