Millions Nairobi United Pocketed For Qualifying for CAF Confederation Cup Group Stage

Nairobi United will pocket a staggering Ksh51 million after making history by qualifying for the group stages of the CAF Confederation Cup, following a nerve-wracking penalty shootout win over Tunisia’s Etoile Sportive du Sahel. 

The young Kenyan side held their composure to triumph 7-6 on penalties with goalkeeper Kevin Oduor saving two decisive spotkicks to secure the record-breaking payday.

The Naibois had a 2-0 cushion from the first leg in Kenya but almost saw their dreams crumble after Oduor’s rare blunder allowed Etoile’s Gaffran Al Nawali to score a stunning header. 

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Despite this scare, Nairobi United kept their cool and celebrated a historic breakthrough into the group stages.

Their heroics  marked the first time the Nicholas Muyoti's charges have reached this level in continental football, making them the first Kenyan club since Gor Mahia in 2018 to qualify for a CAF Confederation Cup group stage. 

CAF’s prize money structure awards group stage participants USD 400,000 (about Ksh51 million), a sum that promises to inject new life into the young club. Nairobi United had already earned USD 50,000 (around Ksh6.7 million) for reaching the preliminary rounds thanks to CAF’s new early-stage funding policy which is a significant improvement over the previous system, which left many smaller clubs struggling with logistics and travel costs.

The money provides Nairobi United with a chance to invest in player development, infrastructure, and club operations, giving them the resources to compete at a higher level. 

Their group stage journey will pit them against African powerhouses like Zamalek SC, Al Masry, Kaizer Chiefs  and Stade Malien, offering both prestige and exposure.

The Naibois’ road to glory began by winning the 2024/25 FKF Cup, becoming the first lower-division club since Sofapaka in 2007 to lift Kenya’s domestic cup.

Before overcoming Etoile, Nairobi United had narrowly edged past Uganda’s NEC FC on away goals after a 3-3 aggregate draw, proving their resilience in high-stakes continental competition.