CAFCC: Salim Ali outlines Nairobi United plans after group stage success

After securing their spot in the group stages of the CAF Confederation Cup, Nairobi United assistant coach Salim Ali has outlined what the Kenyan Premier League want to achieve from the competition this season.

The promoted FKF Premier League side wrote a new chapter in Kenyan football history after securing a place in the CAF competition group stage in their very first attempt. The Nairobi-based outfit triumphed 7-6 on penalties against Tunisia’s Etoile Sportive du Sahel (ESS) after a 2-2 aggregate score over two legs.

United earned the right to represent Kenya in continental football after winning the 2025 Mozzart Bet Cup, a victory that also capped a sensational domestic campaign in which they achieved promotion to the SportPesa League.

United aim is to go as far as possible

“The group stage is a very different ball game, it is not like the knockout stages, we will play three matches at home, and three matches away, so it is something that you will have enough time to prepare for accordingly, than when you only focus on a two-legged game to qualify,” said Ali as quoted by Flashscore.

“So if we get good results at home, and away, and remember Nairobi United is a very good side when playing away, we always get good results away, then again history will come back to Kenya.”

The former Mathare United coach added: “I think as far as we can, the belief of going for glory is there, and the players want to go as far as they can, so for us, the sky is the limit.

“The kind of players we have of course, we will need improvement is some key areas, we will beef up the squad, we have already listed the areas that needs a adjustments, and hopefully the office will support our course, and if we do that I am sure we will surprise teams in this competition.”

He concluded: “We have a very young team, 90 percent of the players in the squad, this was their first time in this biggest stage, but we have worked with them in training and taught them how to play under pressure. You saw how we managed Etoile, we asked the players not to be under pressure.”

In their first preliminary round, the team faced Uganda’s 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.