Nairobi United on the back foot in Africa Cup

A late afternoon of non-stop running by Nairobi United and blowing of vuvuzelas by their fans ended with the Kenyan team suffering a 1-0 loss DR Congo’s AS Maniema Union in a 2025/26 CAF Confederations Cup Group ‘B’ match played at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani on Sunday.   

Six years have passed since a Kenyan club played at home in the group stages of a CAF competition, but Nairobi United’s bid to add to Gor Mahia’s legacy ended with a Congolese club winning on Kenyan soil for the first time since 1994, when DC Motema Pembe defeated Kenya Breweries 3-0 to win that year’s African Cup Winners’ Cup.

Substitute Jeancy Mboma’s 65th-minute goal ensured victory for the visitors, marking only the second time in 10 attempts that a Congolese team was winning away to a Kenyan side in CAF club competitions. The victory was also Maniema’s first ever away in CAF club competitions.

Nairobi United’s coach, Salim Ali, rued the result, stating: “We lost three points against a beatable team.”

“In the second half, we lost concentration, and Maniema took their chance. Tactically, they played well. They are an experienced team, and they managed the game well. They made the second half difficult by wasting time,” Ali said.

“After losing six points, we have a mountain to climb. We still have four matches to go, and the only thing left is to win them,” Ali said on how the team plans to move on from the loss.

AS Maniema’s coach, Papy Kimoto, spoke of a match that went according to plan, saying, “we are happy to take the three points home, but we must work harder.”

Maniema scored from their only shot on target, and Kimoto described the goal as them “having waited for their moment”.

“We invited Nairobi United to attack while pressing them at the right moment to open gaps for us to attack on the counter,” Kimoto said. The match started with Nairobi United surviving an unprecedented scare. After dominating possession in the first five minutes, a misplaced pass led to Obed Mbala firing wide after being set up by Christian Balako.

Later, Balako shot wide from inside the box in the 20th minute after another misplaced pass allowed Clement Pitroipa to set up the chance. Still, Nairobi United produced some bright moments with their starting attack quartet of Dancan Omalla, Enock Machaka, Michael Karamor, and Shami Kibwana heavily involved.

Karamor shot high and wide in the 11th minute before failing to connect with a cross from Machaka in the 25th minute.

Omalla rifled a shot to the sidenetting in the 12th minute and scythed another shot wide in the 26th minute. Kibwana, the oldest player on the pitch, shot a free kick straight to Detan Ogundare in the 36th minute. Seven minutes later, he threaded a pass to Karamor, resulting in a curled effort from the latter that forced an acrobatic save from Ogundare.

The second half returned with the see-saw battle continuing. Both teams neutralised each other’s attacks, with timely interventions leading to clearances and fruitless corners and throw-ins.

Then the tide changed in the 65th minute. A counter-attack by AS Maniema freed 46th-minute substitute Jeancy Mboma on the left wing. Mboma carried the ball into the box, then beat Kevin Oduor at his near post with a low shot from a tight angle.

Nairobi United responded by making three changes. Brian Mogire, Dancan Omalla, and Enock Machaka were replaced Adams Nyambane, Kefa Nakhumicha, and Chris Opondo. Naibois fought hard for a way back into the game, but AS Maniema sealed all routes. They sent crosses, threaded through balls, and whipped corners, but all were returned to sender as two late attempts, by Adams Nyambane and Lennox Ogutu, went narrowly wide.

The full-time whistle confirmed Nairobi United’s second loss in the group stages, leaving them bottom of the group with no points. Wydad and Maniema lead the group with six points, with the Moroccans ranked first on goal difference. Azam of Tanzania, also winless, are third.