Newcomers Nairobi United took a giant step towards progressing to the CAF Confederation Cup group stage after humbling 11-time Tunisian champions Etoile Sportive du Sahel 2-0 at the Ulinzi Sports Complex, Nairobi on Sunday in a first preliminary round first leg fixture.
CAF directed the match be played behind closed doors over logistical and security concerns arising from events planned for the national mourning of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga who was laid to rest on Sunday in Bondo. Odinga died on Wednesday in India at the age of 80.
But, while Azam Media, broadcast live the CAF champions League match between Kenya Police and Sudan’s Al Hilal on Friday, the Tanzania-based outfit failed to show the Confederation tie pitting Nairobi United against Tunisia’s Etiole du Sahel on Sunday.
Nation Sport can reveal that Azam failed to reach a deal with home side Nairobi United to broadcast the game.
“As the home team, Nairobi United owned the broadcast rights for the match. We entered into negotiations with them and unfortunately, we could not agree on commercial terms,” Ravi Kumar, the Country Head for Azam TV Kenya, told Nation Sport on Monday.
Kumar refused to disclose the figures discussed, citing “confidentiality”.
“We managed to broadcast Kenya Police’s match against Al Hilal because they were more accommodative. Nairobi United quoted a higher rate,” said Kumar.
Kumar hinted that Azam may broadcast Kenya Police’s and Nairobi United’s CAF matches should they progress to the group stages.
“After this round of qualifiers, the broadcast rights for the remaining CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup matches will be owned by CAF, whom we will negotiate with to get rights to broadcast,” Kumar said.
Nairobi United players pose for a team photo before the Mozzart Bet Cup final match against Gor Mahia at Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi June 29, 2025.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
While Nairobi United already has one foot in the group stages, Kenya Police face an uphill task in overcoming their 1-0 first leg deficit against the Sudanese champions.
Nicknamed “Al-Mawj Al-Azraq”, meaning Blue Wave, Al Hilal eliminated Gor Mahia and Kenya Breweries (now Tusker FC) from the CAF Champions League in 1992 and 1997 respectively.
Together with Al Mourada (against AFC Leopards in 1989 and 2002 and Rivatex in 1996), they are the only Sudanese clubs that Kenyan sides are yet to beat over two legs in CAF competitions.
Kenya Police are already in Libya for their return fixture that will be played on Friday at the Benina Martyrs Stadium in Benghazi.
“The squad travelled to Libya early because the next available flight to Libya was so close to match day,” a Kenya Police official who did not want to be named as he is not authorized to speak to the media said.
By defeating Etoile du Sahel with goals from Ovella Ochieng’ and John Onyango, Nairobi United maintained a trend of Kenyan clubs winning home matches against Tunisian sides. Theirs was the sixth home win by a Kenyan club in nine two-leg encounters.
Only Gor Mahia (in three encounters against Esperance Sportive de Tunis) failed to win their home matches against a Tunisian club in a CAF competition.
Nairobi Utd’s technical director Salim Ali said they will travel to Tunisia on Wednesday or Thursday. The match will be played at Etoile du Sahel’s 50,000-capacity Sousse Olympic Stadium in Sousse.
