Nairobi United coach on how absence of influential duo cost them win against Maniema
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Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 02.12.25. | 08:45
The Kenyan representatives appeared disjointed at the back and were guilty of lacking the decisive final touch in attack
Nairobi United Technical Director Salim Ali believes the absence of key players was a major factor in Sunday’s 1-0 loss to AS Maniema Union in their second Confederations Cup group-stage match at Kasarani Stadium.
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The former Mathare United head coach said after the match that, Naibois would have benefited from the pacy runs of winger Ovella Ochieng’ and the midfield calmness of Brian Mzee.
“For the other players that we had, we are not saying they did not match the others, but of course we really missed Ovella with his speedy runs.
We also missed Mzee because of his simplicity and his ability in midfield to create opportunities. But at the end of the day, it’s football,” the former Sofapaka and Mathare United head coach said.
Mzee missed the match following the red card he picked up in last Sunday’s 3-0 defeat to Wydad Casablanca in the opening GRoup B game.
Nairobi United’s reality check in the prestigious competition continued with a 1-0 loss to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) side, courtesy of Mboma Kinda’s 66th-minute strike.
The Kenyan representatives appeared disjointed at the back and were guilty of lacking the decisive final touch in attack.
Despite the defeat, Ali is encouraged by the experience the Kenya Premier League newcomers are gaining at continental level.
Naibois are only the second Kenyan side to reach the group stages of the CAF Confederation Cup, after Gor Mahia in 2018.
“We have registered 29 players, and they have to play. Today there is a boy who played his first match in CAF. He has never played in Division One, Division Two, the NSL or the Premier League. Today was his first group-stage match. That’s how we give players opportunities, and they will grow from that,” Ali said.
The team will now shift focus to the league as they break from continental action until January 25, when they face Tanzanian giants Azam FC in Nairobi.
