CAF Confederation Cup: Wydad AC hail Nairobi United’s President Osman Abdi for warm welcome
By Joel Masibo, February 9, 2026Wydad Athletic Club have applauded Nairobi United’s management for the exemplary hospitality extended to them during their visit to Kenya for Sunday, February 8, 2026, CAF Confederation Cup clash, underlining the spirit of sportsmanship that defined their stay in Nairobi.
The Moroccan heavyweights were in the capital for a crucial Group B encounter against Nairobi United, played at Kasarani Stadium, where Wydad secured a narrow 1-0 victory thanks to a dramatic late strike by former Sevilla forward Wissam Ben Yedder.
The goal, scored in the 89th minute, sealed Wydad’s qualification for the quarter-finals with a game to spare and condemned the Kenyan side to yet another narrow defeat in a tough continental campaign.
Despite the competitive tension on the pitch, Wydad reserved glowing praise for their hosts off it. In an official statement released after the match, the Casablanca-based club singled out Nairobi United president Osman Abdi, the club’s management committee, and the fans for their warmth, organisation, and passion.
Warm welcome
“Wydad Athletic Club extends its sincere thanks to President Osman Abdi, the Nairobi United committee, and the club’s supporters for the warm welcome and exceptional hospitality shown to our team in Nairobi. The excellent organisation, availability, and passion of the public truly reflected the values of respect and sporting fraternity. We wish Nairobi United continued success,” read the statement.
The match itself was a tightly contested affair, with Nairobi United producing one of their most disciplined performances of the tournament. The hosts started brightly and threatened to cause an upset, but were undone late on by Ben Yedder’s clinical finish, which broke home hearts and confirmed Wydad’s dominance in the group.
Naibois improve
Despite losing all five of their Group B matches in the continental showpiece, former Harambee Stars coach Ghost Mulee noted that there were a lot of positives to pick from Naibois’s show, saying posting such a performance against one of Africa’s best clubs in their debut season deserves credit.
Nairobi United created numerous chances that could have resulted in goals, but the team’s forwards, led by Mwinyi Kibwana, were not clinical enough to convert; the wastefulness in the final third that the former Harambee Stars gaffer said cost the home side maximum points.
”It was a perfect game; when you look at the action in front of the goal, Nairobi United created more opportunities. They should have won this game if they had taken their chances, more so in the first half,” Mulee said.
”They controlled the game, but yet again, lack of experience at this level has really taken a toll on them. When you look at the action in front of the goal for the two teams, Wydad AC did not have a lot of opportunities, but they were looking for just one chance that they could use to get the three points out of Nairobi, and that is what they did. Experience is what cost Nairobi United,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Wydad’s recognition also reflects growing respect for Kenyan clubs in Africa, following Nairobi United’s historic debut campaign in the CAF Confederation Cup.