Wasteful Nairobi United suffer home CAF Confederation Cup loss to AS Maniema

Nairobi United suffered a 1-0 home loss to DR Congo’s Maniema in a CAF Confederation Cup (CAF CC) Group B match played at the Moi International Sports Center, Kasarani on Sunday, 30 November from 1600 hrs.

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Naibois were wasteful in the match which was their first home CAF CC group match on home soil, and the first in Kenya since 2018, when Gor Mahia competed in the tournament

The match started with a high tempo, both teams seemingly looking for an early goal with Maniema getting a corner in the second minute courtesy of Obed Mbala, who showed early attacking threats.

In the seventh minute, Nairobi United survived a scare when Christian Bakalo, with the goalkeeper to beat after a John Otieno mistake, mis-controlled the ball, forcing him to lay it to Mbala, whose shot went inches wide.

Naibois grew into the match and were exchanging neat, quick passes especially on the left, where Kevin Otiende, Enock Machaka and Dancun Omalla were creating an overload.

©Gad Isaac

The Johnson Sakaja-backed side continued to grow into the match, and started dominating proceedings through Machaka and Lesley Owino, but with no meaningful chance created.

Balako was once again wasteful in the 24th minute when he got to the end of a Clement Pitroipa cut back, but once again, shot wide from the six yard box.

Naibois’ first big chance came in the 25th minute when Otiende, Shami Kibwana and Machaka combined with quick passes, the latter crossing the ball to the six yard box where Michael Karamor was slightly late to meet the ball.

Two minutes later, Machaka who was the creative source for Naibois, set Omalla through on goal with a defence splitting pass, but the latter’s shot went inches wide off the bottom right post.

The reigning Mozzart Bet Cup champions kept on creating chances and half chances, notably in the 33rd minute when Otiende on the overlap brought an exciting cross into the six yard box that was cleared by Maniema captain Osee Ndombele.

The last chance of the first half fell to Karamor, who was set up by Shami, but his 44th minute strike was saved by Detan Ogundare in the Maniema goal.

In the second half, Maniema coach Papy Okitankoy responded to Naibois dominance by bringing on Sylva Tshitenge and Jeancy Mboma for Balako and Mbala.

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With the changes, Maniema started the second half brightly, seeing more of the ball, with Charve Sangana proving to be a threat from the right flank.

The introduction proved to be headache for Yusuf Mainge, who was dribbled past twice by the second half substitute.

Naibois also got into opportunities to create chances, but Karamor and Omalla could not find the right pass in the final third by the 60th minute.

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Omalla took a shot from long range in the 62nd minute, but it was far wide to cause any alarm to Ogundare.

Maniema finally got a reward for their second half dominance in the 67th minute when Kinda was put through on goal by Ozome in the left flank, who drove fast into the penalty area, before shooting past Oduor into the bottom right corner.

©Gad Isaac

Reacting to the goal, Naibois coach Salim Ali responded by bringing Adams Nyang’ate and Kefa Nakhumicha for Machaka and Omalla.

The FKF Premier League newbies also resorted to direct long balls as the urgency for a goal increased.

Kinda continued to be a constant threat for Naibois, drawing fouls from Mainge, Owino and Lennox Ogutu, the latter yellow carded for a foul on the Maniema sub.

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Salim reacted further by taking off Mainge, who seemed overwhelmed, as well as Shami, for Frank Ouya and Majaliwa Charo, shifting to a three-man defense to have more numbers upfront but Maniema held on to their lead at full time.

With the result, Naibois remained at the bottom of the group with zero points, same as Tanzania’s Azam FC, while Maniema moved up to second with six points, same tally as Moroccan outfit Wydad AC

Nairobi United Starting XI: Kevin Oduor, Yusuf Mainge, John Onyango, Shami Kibwana, Kevin Otiende, Michael Karamor, Lesley Owino, Dancan Oluoch Omalla, Lennox Ogutu, Enock Machaka

Maniema Staring XI: Detan Odundare,Jordi Mukoko, Charve Sangana, Clement Pitroipa, Obed Mbala, Jeancy Lita, Dieu Merci Lupini, Moanda Exaucia, Christian Balako, Osee Ndombele, Ozome Chadoma