Kenya Police FC coach opts to focus on positives after surviving Mogadishu City scare
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Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 30.09.25. | 18:04
Police will now face Sudan’s Al Hilal Omdurman in the second round, a tougher test than against the Somali side
Kenya Police FC head coach Etienne Ndayiragije expressed gratitude after his team sealed a CAF Champions League second-round spot on Sunday, despite going down 2-0 to Mogadishu City Club in the return leg of the first round at Nyayo National Stadium.
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Having won the first leg 3-1 at the same venue with Somali lacking a CAF-approved stadium, the Law Enforcers went into the tie as clear favourites.
However, the Somali side had other ideas, dominating the match and at one point putting Police FC under real pressure—one more goal would have knocked them out. In the end, though, the Kenyan champions advanced to the second round on the away goals rule.
The performance left many, especially club supporters and management, disappointed since Police were expected to handle the minnows comfortably but instead suffered a worrying defeat.
In his post-match interview, the Burundian coach chose to focus on the positives, the most important being qualification to the next round.
“We are grateful for the outcome, and we pick the positives,” he said.
He highlighted aspects of the game his team did well, praising their forward play and transitions, but admitting they were let down by poor finishing and careless ball losses.
“We were good going forward and better in transitions, but we failed to convert our chances in the final third.
Losing possession easily also hurt us because it slowed the flow of the game. Our first-leg advantage helped us progress, and we thank God for that,” Ndayiragije added.
Police will now face Sudan’s Al Hilal Omdurman in the second round, a tougher test than against the Somali side.
The first leg will be played in Nairobi on the weekend of Saturday, 18 or Sunday, 19 October, with the return match a week later in Zanzibar.
In the meantime, the club will turn its attention to domestic action. On Wednesday, they face Ulinzi Stars in a Disciplined Forces Derby at the Police Sacco Grounds in their league opener, before travelling to Kisii on Sunday to play APS Bomet FC in a Police Derby.
