Following their exit from the CECAFA Kagame Cup, Somali outfit Mogadishu City FC arrived in Kenya on Friday morning to aid preparations for their CAF Champions League first round qualifier versus Kenya Premier League Champions Kenya Police FC.
The first batch of 18 players and staff arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Friday at 7 am from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The second batch will arrive on Friday evening.
Mogadishu City FC will host the first leg of the encounter in Nairobi at the Nyayo National Stadium, Saturday, 20 September 202,5, by virtue of not having a CAF CAF-accredited stadium in their country. Police will host the second leg at the same venue eight days later on 28th September.
Mogadishu City FC players arriving at the JKIA. PHOTO/Oliver Ananda
Mogadishu, who were eliminated from the CECAFA Kagame Cup in Tanzania on Thursday, will set up camp in Nairobi, ahead of their much-anticipated first round clash as they aim to make sense of their new surroundings.
During the Kagame Cup, they managed to win one of their three group stage matches. They drew 1-1 with Sudanese side Al Hilal in their opening encounter.
They then managed a barren draw with Kator from South Sudan. In their final group stage match, they saw off Al Ahli Medani 2-1. Despite collecting five points, they failed to qualify for the semifinals.
Mogadishu City FC players arriving at the JKIA. PHOTO/Oliver Ananda
Mogadishu City FC Coach Dadir Ali, speaking to Radio Generation Sport, said he was looking forward to the challenge of facing Police, whom they have watched in the flesh in Tanzania during the Kagame Cup.
"We are happy to be here in Kenya and we are looking forward to the match against Police, he said. I have experience with Kenya Police. They have a good coach and good players and I saw them at the CECAFA tournament. We know it will be a tough match, but we are ready to play them," he said upon arrival at JKIA.
Mogadishu City FC players arriving at the JKIA. PHOTO/Oliver Ananda
The winner of the two-legged tie will take on either Jamus FC from South Sudan or Sudanese giants Al Hilal in the second qualifying round scheduled for the week of 17 October 2025.
