Baptism of Fire: Nairobi United draw African giants in Confederation Cup group stage

Nairobi United players during a past match./FILE

Nairobi United’s fairytale rise continues as the club marks their first appearance in the Confederation Cup group stages, where it’s been drawn against seasoned sides Wydad Casablanca, Azam FC and AS Maniema Union.

The side, bankrolled by Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, wrote their name into Kenyan football history books after edging two-time African champions Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia 7-6 on penalties a fortnight ago.

It was a dramatic finish that sealed their passage into the group stages – a first for the rookie club and only the second time a Kenyan team has reached this far. Now led by head coach Nicholas Muyoti, the fast-rising outfit are set for their biggest challenge yet.

The group is packed with seasoned continental campaigners, each boasting a serious pedigree and experience Nairobi United can only dream of – for now. Wydad Casablanca, who call the electric Mohammed V Stadium home, are the undisputed heavyweights of the pool.

Founded back in 1937, the Moroccan powerhouse are three-time CAF Champions League winner (1992, 2017, and 2022) and perennial favourites in any African competition they enter.

Across the border in Tanzania, Azam FC – known to fans as the Chamazi Millionaires – have steadily grown into one of East Africa’s top sides. Since bursting onto the scene in 2004, they’ve muscled their way into contention against giants Simba and Yanga, even clinching the Tanzanian Premier League title in 2013/14.

This will be another chance for Azam to show they can finally make their mark beyond the preliminaries, where they’ve stumbled in years past, including 2015 and 2024.

Then there’s AS Maniema Union, the Congolese club returning for a second straight shot at the Confederation Cup group stage. Their first attempt was nothing to shout about – they finished bottom of their group with just three points – but the bruising experience might just have toughened them up for this campaign.

For Nairobi United, reaching the group phase is already a triumph in itself – proof of how far they’ve come in such a short time. After storming through the preliminaries with fearless, all-action performances, they now find themselves rubbing shoulders with the continent’s elite.

It’s a fairytale rise for the ambitious Kenyan club, but the real test begins now. In a group where giants roam, Naibois will need grit, heart, and a bit of that Nairobi swagger to survive.