- Al Hilal beat Kenya Police FC 4–1 on aggregate to advance to the 2025/26 CAF Champions League group stage.
- In the second leg of the final preliminary round, Al Hilal pummeled Kenya Police 3–1, adding to the 1–0 win they secured in Nairobi.
- The match was staged at the Benina Martyrs Stadium in Libya on Friday, October 24.
Kenya Police’s journey to a maiden CAF Champions League group stage appearance concluded on Friday night after a 3-1 defeat to Al Hilal Omdurman in the second leg of the Final Preliminary Round for the 2025/26 competition.
The Law Enforcers entered the Benina Martyrs Stadium in Libya aiming to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit from the Ulinzi Sports Complex.
However, they encountered a formidable opponent who netted three more goals, securing Al Hilal’s passage to their seventh consecutive CAF Champions League group stage with a commanding 4-1 aggregate victory.
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Nigerian forward Sunday Adetunji was the hero for the hosts, scoring a brace before his team added a third in the final moments of stoppage time.
A stunning strike from Eric Zakayo off the bench proved insufficient for Kenya Police, serving only as a consolation – a fate mirroring their exit at the same stage last season in the CAF Confederation Cup.
Al Hilal, who will now aim to progress beyond the quarterfinals they reached last season, controlled the match for large stretches of the first half.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 36th minute.
Al Hilal won a foul on the left wing, and Abdel Raouf’s excellent delivery found the head of Adetunji, who powered it home to give the Sudanese giants a 2-0 aggregate lead, leaving Police in need of at least two goals.
Five minutes after the second half restart, Kenya Police fought back to level the match on the night.
A clever piece of play involved Tansele Mosengo, who delivered a superb cross from the left that found its way to another impact substitute in Zakayo who slotted it home to equalize.
Their hopes were short-lived, as the hosts capitalized on another defensive lapse in the 63rd minute. The prolific Nigerian forward Adetunji secured his brace with a composed finish, guiding a powerful volley from the right wing into the net.
Kenya Police struggled to mount a credible comeback, with their midfield appearing stretched and allowing Laurentiu Reghecampf’s charges to exploit the space.
Al Hilal successfully protected their lead and sealed the victory with a late goal in added time, confirming a 4-1 aggregate triumph and their place in the CAF Champions’ League group stage.
For Kenya Police, under coach Etienne Ndayiragije, the KSh 90 million windfall awaiting a group-stage participant has vanished.
The team will now return home to focus on securing back-to-back Sportpesa League titles and booking another slot in continental competition next season.
Al Hilal vs Kenya Police FC CAF Champions League Line-ups
- Al Hilal: Soufiane, Ebuela, Karshoum, Ereng, Luzolo, Girimugisha, Salah, Walieldin, Abdel Raouf, Coulibaly, Sunday.
- Kenya Police FC: Khadim Ndiaye, Baraka Badi, Geoffrey Onyango, David Ochieng, Charles Ouma, Musa Loro, Tobias Otieno, Marvin Nabwire, Tansele Mosengo, Samwel Anyride, David Simiyu.