- Nairobi United vs Azam FC will face off on Sunday, January 25, in the third outing of the CAF Confederations Cup Group Stage 25/26.
- The match will be staged at Nyayo National Stadium, with kickoff set for 4:00pm EAT.
SportPesa League side Nairobi United FC will be chasing their first-ever victory in the CAF Confederations Cup group stage when they host Tanzanian moneybags Azam FC at Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The crucial encounter is scheduled to kick off at 4:00 PM (EAT) and presents a must-win scenario for both sides, who are yet to register a point in the competition.
This fixture marks the third group-stage outing for the two teams, both of whom have endured a difficult start to their continental campaigns.
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Nairobi United vs Azam FC preview
Nairobi United opened their group-stage journey with a heavy 3-0 defeat away to Moroccan powerhouse Wydad Casablanca before suffering a frustrating 1-0 loss at home to DR Congo’s AS Maniema Union at Kasarani Stadium.
Those results have left the Kenyan side rooted at the bottom of the group and in desperate need of a positive result to keep their qualification hopes alive.
Azam FC have also struggled to find their footing in the group. The Tanzanian outfit began with a 2-0 away defeat to AS Maniema Union before narrowly losing 1-0 at home to Wydad Casablanca at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar.
Like NaiBois, Azam head into this clash without a single point and know that anything less than a win could seriously dent their chances of progressing to the knockout stages.
Domestically, Nairobi United come into the match with mixed form in the SportPesa League.
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Salim Ali’s side has won two of their last five league matches, drawn twice, and suffered just one defeat;a run that offers some encouragement ahead of the continental showdown.
Azam FC, on the other hand, have posted promising results across competitions. Florent Ibenge’s men recently enjoyed a strong Mapinduzi Cup campaign, eliminating rivals Simba SC in the semifinals before losing to Yanga on post-match penalties in the final.
In the league, Azam have recorded two wins and two draws in their last four matches.
Nairobi United vs Azam FC: Coaches share reactions ahead of the clash
Nairobi United head coach Salim Ali believes a home victory could be the turning point for his team in the competition.
“We have to play very well at home. Once we perform well at home, we will get results. We need the three points, and if we get them, it will change our fortunes abd with a win,we will need to communicate to the players that qualifying for the quarterfinals is still possible,” said Ali.
Azam FC head coach Florent Ibenge remains equally confident that his side can come away with a positive result.
“For me, the competition is not finished yet. We started slowly and have lost two games, but we still have four matches to play, and we are targeting wins in those games. Against Nairobi United, we want to win, and if things do not go our way, then we want a draw and not a loss,” noted Ibenge.
The group is currently led by Wydad Casablanca with six points, level with AS Maniema Union but ahead on goal difference. With both Nairobi United and Azam FC yet to open their accounts, Sunday’s clash is a do-or-die affair.
The match will be played at Nyayo National Stadium, kick off at 4:00 PM (EAT), and will be broadcast live on Azam Sports HD 2. It will also be available on KBC Channel 1 for free-to-air viewers.
