Confederation Cup: Ex-Gor Mahia Defender Warns Nairobi United of What Awaits in Tunisia After Shock Win

Former Gor Mahia defender Alphonce Omija has cautioned Nairobi United to brace for a challenging environment when they travel to Tunisia for the second leg of their CAF Confederation Cup match against Étoile Sportive du Sahel.

The stern warning comes after Nairobi United shocked the two-time competition winners, Étoile du Sahel, 2-0 in the first leg played behind closed doors at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi on Sunday, October 19.

Goals from Ovella Ochieng and John Otieno secured a remarkable 2-0 victory for Nairobi United over the North African powerhouse.

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The Kenyan club, which qualified for the continental showpiece by winning the domestic FKF Cup, began their journey in the First Preliminary Round against Ugandan Premier League side NEC FC.

After a thrilling 2-2 draw in the first leg away in Uganda, Nairobi United secured their passage to the next stage with a hard-fought 1-1 draw in the return leg at home. This 3-3 aggregate result saw the Kenyan side advance on the crucial away goals rule.

The Harambee Stars defender, who plays for the Tunisian club, issued the warning after the defeat. A draw in the return leg on Sunday, October 26, at the Stade Olympique de Sousse would be enough to see the continental debutants advance to the group stages.

However, Alphonce Omija highlighted that securing a result in North Africa will be a formidable task, particularly due to the passionate local support.

“I do not know how people welcome visiting teams there. The stadiums there are always full, the fans are very passionate, they even travelled and turned up to watch our training on Saturday,” Alphonce Omija explained as quoted by Mozzart Sport.

“The atmosphere for Nairobi United is going to be different. Not what they are used to.”

The 23-year-old defender, who made his own continental debut for Sahel in the Nairobi loss, admitted that even he had to adjust to the fervent fan culture in Tunisia. “Even myself I had to get used to the atmosphere there,” he noted.

Beyond the intimidating environment at the 50,000-seat stadium, Alphonce Omija believes his team must improve significantly to overturn the two-goal deficit.

Reflecting on his team's performance in Nairobi, the former Gor Mahia player pointed to defensive lapses as a key issue.

“When you look at the goals, it might have been that we lost a bit of concentration at the back, and that is something we will work on this week,” he said.

Alphonce Omija also acknowledged his team's struggles in attack, adding, “I do not think we also had so many chances upfront.”

Meanwhile, Nairobi United’s impressive win gives them a significant advantage as they head for the return leg. Their fearless display and tactical discipline have positioned them tantalisingly close to a historic spot in the CAF Confederation Cup group stages, a feat that would mark a major milestone for the club and Kenyan football.