Kenya Police, Nairobi United learn opponents in CAF Champions League, Confederation Cup draw

Reigning FKF Premier League champions Kenya Police FC will make their debut in the CAF Champions League with a preliminary round clash against Mogadishu City, while Mozzart Bet Cup holders Nairobi United will face Uganda’s National Enterprise Corporation (NEC) FC in the opening round of the CAF Confederation Cup.

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Kenya Police FC-CAF Champions League

Africa's premier club competition saw a total of 62 clubs from 50 states within the continent enter the draw with the aim of wresting the title from Egyptian first-time winners Pyramids FC.

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The Etienne Ndayiragije-coached side will commence the competition with an away clash slated between the weekend of August 16 and 18, with the return leg earmarked for a week later.

Victory over the two-legged tie will see the Law Enforcers advance to the second preliminary round, where they are scheduled to face either South Sudan’s Jamus FC Juba or Sudanese heavyweights Al Hilal.

The winner on aggregate from that stage will secure a coveted place in the group stage of Africa’s premier club competition.

Nairobi United- CAF Confederation Cup

The draw, conducted on Saturday, 9 August, at Azam Studios in Dar es Salaam, pitted the reigning National Super League (NSL) champions against the Ugandan Premier League runners-up in a two-legged preliminary tie that promises regional intrigue.

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Naibois were pooled in Pot 2, alongside Flambeau du Centre (Burundi), AS Port (Djibouti), Wolitta Dicha SC (Ethiopia), Libya 1 and Libya 2 (Libya), Rayon Sports FC (Rwanda), Dekadaha FC (Somalia), El Merriekh FC Bentiu (South Sudan), Al Ahli Madani (Sudan), Al Zamalek Umr. (Sudan), Singida Black Stars and Azam FC (Tanzania), NEC FC (Uganda), and KMKM SC (Zanzibar) will need to navigate past NEC to reach the second preliminary round.

The FKF Premier League debutants earned their historic CAF inter-club competition ticket in dramatic fashion, stunning record Kenyan champions Gor Mahia 2-1 in the Mozzart Bet Cup final staged at Ulinzi Complex on Sunday, 29 June.

The victory capped a giant-killing run that showcased their fearless approach and marked them as a team capable of upsetting the established order.

NEC’s journey to the Confederation Cup came via league placement. They finished second in the Uganda Premier League, behind champions Vipers SC.

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With Vipers securing a domestic double, including a 2-0 victory over KCCA in the Stanbic Bank Cup final, the continental slot for the Ugandan league’s runners-up fell to NEC.

The first leg will be played between 19–21 September, with the return fixture set for 26–28 September.

The winner will advance to the next stage, where they will meet Sudan’s Al Ahli Madani, a seasoned continental campaigner, for a chance to qualify and move closer to the coveted group phase of Africa’s second-tier club competition.