Kenya Police in action with Al Hilal's Abdelrazig Omer at Ulinzi Sports Complex/KENYAPOLICEThere was a sense of purpose and quiet tension at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Monday evening as Kenya Police FC boarded their flight to Benghazi, Libya.
Their mission: to rescue a dream that hangs by a thread.
This Friday night, beneath the pale floodlights of Benina Martyrs Stadium, the men in blue will face Sudanese giants Al Hilal Omdurman in the second leg of the CAF Champions League final qualification round.
They trail by a solitary goal — a 20th-minute strike by Adama Coulibaly that silenced the Ulinzi Sports Complex last week — but in their camp, silence has now turned into resolve.
Police FC, led by the calm and calculating Etienne Ndayiragije, travelled with their faith tucked deep in their boots.
The odds are steep, but Police FC have never been strangers to pressure. Their coach, Etienne Ndayiragije, is confident his men can rewrite the script.
The Burundian tactician, whose words often sound more like philosophy than tactics, knows his men have no margin for error.
“We lost narrowly at home but we’re not defeated,” said the Burundian tactician before departure.
“We’ve been in this situation before, and we’ve learned that football rewards courage. We’re going to Libya to fight, not to survive.”
Ordinarily, Al Hilal would have hosted the return leg at their Omdurman fortress, a 35,000-seater cauldron of noise and colour.
But Sudan’s political instability has silenced stadiums and displaced dreams. Football, like so many other things, had to find another home — and so, the Libyan city of Benghazi became a borrowed stage for this African drama.
Al Hilal coach Laurentiu Reghecampf admits the circumstances are far from ideal. “In football, nothing is guaranteed,” said the Romanian tactician.
“We won the first leg, but that means nothing if we lose focus. Police FC play with intensity and belief. They’ve shown they can hurt teams away from home.”
Police FC’s training sessions this week have been intense. The focus, Ndayiragije said, has been on “composure under pressure” and finding the right rhythm in front of goal.
“We created chances in the first leg but didn’t convert,” he noted. “In Libya, we must be sharper. Every minute will count. Every chance will matter. We can’t afford hesitation.”
The coach, known for his calm tactical mind, has guided Police FC through steady growth since joining the club.
Under his watch, they knocked out Mogadishu City Club in the previous round — a feat he believes can inspire another comeback.
“Football is a game of moments,” Ndayiragije said. “If we stay organised and patient, we’ll have ours. It’s about seizing it when it comes.”
His frontline — led by the prolific Eric Zakayo and the quick-footed Samuel Ayanrife— will carry much of the burden.
Zakayo, who sparkled in the first leg, is expected to play a pivotal role in breaking down Al Hilal’s compact defence.
Al Hilal, one of Africa’s most consistent performers, have reached the CAF Champions League group stages 12 times in the last two decades.
Yet Reghecampf refuses to take anything for granted.
“Away goals are a double-edged sword,” he said. “We got one in Nairobi, but the return leg will be different. Police FC have nothing to lose, and teams like that are dangerous. We must stay disciplined.”
He reflected on the tactical struggle in the first leg, where Al Hilal spent much of the second half defending deep after Coulibaly’s opener.
“Our style is to attack and press high,” Reghecampf explained. “But sometimes you adapt to circumstances. The important thing is to win. In Libya, we will aim to control the tempo better.”
If there’s one quality that defines Police FC, it’s resilience. Since their promotion to the top flight, they’ve transformed from mid-table hopefuls to continental contenders.
Backed by one of Kenya’s most stable sporting projects, they combine structure with ambition.
“Our journey hasn’t been easy,” said Ndayiragije. “We’ve faced setbacks before. But these players are soldiers — disciplined, hungry, and proud. When we walk out in Libya, we’ll be walking for every Kenyan football fan who believes that our time is now.”
Team captain David Ochieng, a veteran of both domestic and international football, echoed his coach’s words.
“We respect Al Hilal,” he said. “They’re a big club. But football isn’t played on paper. We believe we can make something special happen.”
The winner of this two-legged tie will advance to the CAF Champions League group stage, joining Africa’s elite.
For Police FC, it would mark a historic milestone — the club’s first-ever qualification at that level, and a breakthrough moment for Kenyan football, which has struggled to maintain continental relevance in recent years.
A defeat, however, would not spell the end. The losing side will drop into the CAF Confederation Cup, ensuring continued participation in continental competition. But Ndayiragije insists the goal is clear.
“We’re not thinking about the Confederation Cup,” he said. “We’re thinking about the Champions League. That’s where we want to be.”
