The Kenyan side triumphed 7-6 on penalties against Tunisia’s Etoile Sportive du Sahel after a 2-2 aggregate score over two legs, sealing a memorable qualification that crowned their remarkable rise in recent seasons.
Nicknamed Naibois, the Nairobi-based club earned the right to represent Kenya in continental football after winning the 2025 FKF Cup, a victory that capped a sensational domestic campaign in which they achieved promotion to the FKF Premier League.
In their first preliminary round, the team faced Ugandan Premier League side NEC FC. The first leg in Uganda at the Hamz Stadium ended 2-2, before a 1-1 draw at Nyayo Stadium saw them advance on the away goals rule.
Against Etoile, United registered a shock 2-0 win in Nairobi. They headed for the return leg carrying a 2-0 advantage. During the contest, Etoile managed to level the scoreline at 2-2 in the normal time.
However, United held firm to win the shootout 7-6, and book their ticket to the group stage. Their journey will now begin on Sunday when they face Wydad AC of Morocco in their matchday one. United have been pooled in Group B alongside Azam FC of Tanzania and Maniema Union of DR Congo.
Nairobi United ready for Wydad AC test
According to Nairobi United assistant coach Salim Ali, the Kenyan side have analysed Wydad’s weak, and strong areas and they are ready to exploit them on Sunday.
“We have prepared enough, coming all the way up to here means we have prepared enough to face one of the biggest clubs in Africa on Sunday,” said Ali ahead of the fixture at Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca.
“The mood in camp is fantastic, I can see the players are psyched up, they are trying to understand playing under floodlights, this is the second training session, and hopefully we will have another one before the game.
Discussing what he knows about Wydad, the former Mathare United coach said: “Wydad are a very experienced team, with a very good forward line, but they have weaknesses in their defence line, so we will try and take advantage of their weaknesses, and try to minimise their strengths to our advantage.
“We know it is going to be a difficult game, but what matters is 90 minutes, we have to be prepared enough, and work well during the game, and this of course, will make our work easier during the game.”
“We are okay, we don’t have any fitness concerns, the only challenge we have is Yusuf Mainge is out, he won’t play any part because of the three yellow cards he has accumulated so far, so he will definitely be out for this match.
Ali concluded: “The most important thing is we have never let ourselves down, we are working hard, we know it is a group stage now, group stage is a tough one, we have six matches, and I believe from the six matches, we will make it count starting with this away match.
“It is a tight one, tough one, 90 minutes of battle, and of course if we put our concentration on top, then we will definitely return home with a good result.”
After playing against Wydad, United will next face AS Maniema in their matchday two on November 30, Sunday.
