Nairobi United have made history after qualifying for the CAF Confederation Cup group stage for the first time, a milestone that comes with a financial windfall of Ksh51 million. The youthful Kenyan side stunned Tunisian giants Étoile Sportive du Sahel in a tense penalty shootout to secure their place among Africa’s elite clubs.
After a 2-0 win in the first leg in Nairobi, the return fixture in Tunisia proved nerve-racking. A costly blunder by goalkeeper Kevin Oduor gifted Étoile’s Gaffran Al Nawali a goal, giving the hosts hope of overturning the deficit. However, Oduor redeemed himself heroically during the shootout, saving two decisive penalties as Nairobi United triumphed 7-6 to book their spot in the group stage.
The achievement marks a major breakthrough for the club and Kenyan football, as Nairobi United become the first team from the country to reach this stage since Gor Mahia in 2018. Under head coach Nicholas Muyoti, the team has displayed remarkable composure and resilience throughout their continental campaign.
CAF’s revamped prize money structure guarantees every club that reaches the group stage USD 400,000 (about Ksh51 million). This comes in addition to the USD 50,000 (around Ksh6.7 million) they already received for progressing through the preliminary rounds. The funding represents a huge boost for the club, which has been operating on limited resources since its formation.
The influx of cash will enable Nairobi United to invest in key areas such as player development, training facilities, and logistics. It also offers an opportunity to strengthen the squad ahead of tough upcoming fixtures against established African clubs like Zamalek SC, Al Masry, Kaizer Chiefs, and Stade Malien.
Their journey to this point has been nothing short of inspirational. Nairobi United earned their ticket to continental competition by winning the 2024/25 FKF Cup—becoming the first lower-division team since Sofapaka in 2007 to achieve the feat. Earlier in the tournament, they eliminated Uganda’s NEC FC on away goals after a dramatic 3-3 aggregate draw.
With newfound confidence, continental recognition, and financial stability, Nairobi United’s success signals the dawn of a new era for Kenyan football.
