Kenya Police FC scraped through to the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League after a nerve-wracking 2-0 defeat to Mogadishu City FC at Nyayo Stadium. The Law Enforcers advanced on the away goals rule, having won the first leg 3-1 in Mogadishu.
The return leg saw a disappointing turnout, primarily due to a controversy that occurred during the first match. Mogadishu City fans had disrespected the Kenyan flag, an act that sparked outrage across Kenya. As a result, many fans stayed away from the stadium for the second leg, depriving Kenya Police of much-needed revenue from gate collections. The incident led to both governments condemning the actions, and the individuals responsible for the flag disrespect were arrested and are facing prosecution.
On the field, Kenya Police’s performance was far from convincing. They dominated possession in the first half but struggled to break down the resolute Mogadishu defense. Despite controlling the game, they were caught off-guard in the 33rd minute when Issa Adan Yusuf latched onto a turnover and coolly slotted past Police goalkeeper Khadime Ndiaye to give Mogadishu City a 1-0 lead at the break.
The second half started poorly for Kenya Police, who found themselves further on the back foot after a penalty was awarded to Mogadishu City. Joash Onyango fouled Yusuf inside the box, and Ibrahima Bangura converted from the spot, putting Kenya Police on the brink of elimination. Coach Etienne Ndayiragije reacted by making a triple substitution, introducing fresh legs to the attack, but the changes could not prevent Mogadishu from holding on to their advantage.
Kenya Police mounted pressure towards the end of the match, with Edward Omondi and David Okoth coming close, but Mogadishu goalkeeper Yusuf Yusuf made crucial saves, even injuring himself in the process. The final whistle came with a 2-0 win for Mogadishu City, but it wasn’t enough to overturn the first-leg deficit.
Despite the loss, Kenya Police advanced with a 3-3 aggregate score, thanks to their 3-1 win away from home. They will now face either Al Hilal Omdurman or Jamus in the second preliminary round, where they will need to sharpen their finishing and defensive organization if they are to make a mark in the group stage of the CAF Champions League.
