CAFCL: Away goal rule to rescue as Police FC sneak into second round despite shock defeat to Somali side
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Reading Time: 3min | Sun. 28.09.25. | 18:41
Had the visitors scored a third goal, they would have qualified to the next round at the expense of Police
Kenya Police FC booked a place in the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League (CAFCL) qualifiers despite suffering a 2-0 home loss to Somalia side Mogadishu City Club (MCC).
The return leg of the preliminary round was played on Sunday, 28 September at the Nyayo National Stadium from 4 PM.
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Police qualified to the CAF elite competition following their historic maiden FKF Premier League title last season.
Heading to Sunday's clash, the Law Enforcers were within a touching distance to the next phase of the campaign having won the first leg 3-1 on Saturday, 20 September.
Police unleashed their firing power from onset, pinning MCC to their half, with their first shot on target coming from a feeble free kick by Daniel Sakari in the eighth minute.
MCC's first sight at goal came in the 14th minute when Abdikadir Enow was put through on goal but went down easily under minimal contact from Joash Onyango. The referee waved play on.
MCC would then wait until the 20th minute for their first shot on target which came from a Mohamed Mursal long range strike from the right side of attack but Khadime Ndiaye was equal to the task.
By the half hour mark, Police were still dominating play but misplaced passes in the final third worked against their plan to break the deadlock.
The visitors took the lead in the 34th minute through Issa Yusuf who was clinical enough to have the ball past Ndiaye.
Buoyed by the goal, MCC had a good spell in the next three minutes, pushing Police back to their post but could not reduce the deficit further.
On the other end, Police seemed to have been awakened and played with more agency in attack.
At half time, Police tactician Etienne Ndariyagije responded to the shocking first half result by making triple substitution.
Edward Omondi, David Okoth and Eusters Chasara were introduced for Erick Zakayo, Alvin Mang’eni and David Simiyu in a bid to bolster the attack.
Despite bringing in the fresh legs, Police could not shoot their way through the Mogadishu defence.
In the 54th minute Enow dispossessed Onyango, with the latter bringing him down, in the area, forcing the referee to award MCC a penalty.
Ibrahim Bungura stepped up and from the spot, sent Ndiaye the wrong way to not only double MCC’s lead but also take them equal with Police on aggregate.
With the pressure increasing, the Police made another change, bringing on Moise Mbombo for the young Albert Otieno.
MCC also made a triple substitution in the 67th minute, introducing Hassan Adan, Isse Ibrahim and Mark Khadohi for Enow, Kirenge Muhindo and Mohamud Omar as they kept pushing for the elusive third goal.
With MCC needing a goal to qualify, they went out in an all attack, forcing Police to stay back and defend their lead as the match progressed.
Police got half chances in the match but neither did Marvin Nabwire Omondi nor Okoth were able to find the back of the net.
Mogadishu got a golden chance to equalize in the 90th minute but substitute Benjamin Rukundo shot wide from a the six yard box.
The Law Enforcers defended until the final whistle to proceed to the second round on away goal rule.
Elsewhere, Tanzanian giants Simba SC were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Botswana side Gaborone United but proceeded to the second round on a 2-1 aggregate win.
Kenyan international Mohamed Bajaber was not in the match day squad as he is still recovering from a thigh injury.
Kenya Police Starting XI: Khadime Ndiaye, Daniel Sakari, Geoffrey Onyango, Brian Okoth, Joash Onyango, Charles Ouma, Albert Otieno, Tobias Otieno, David Simiyu, Eric Zakayo, Alvin Mang’eni
Mogadishu City Club Starting XI: Yusuf Yusuf, Mohamud Omar, Outarra Kouassi(C), Albert Onyeama, Abdiwali Mohamed, Ibrahim Bangura, Kirenge Muhindo, Ilyas Khamis, Issa Yusuf, Abdikadir Enow, Mohamed Mursal
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