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Kenya does not have enough oxygen: Al-Ahli Medani coach says after Tusker defeat
13th September, 2026 09:32 AM
Al-Ahli Medani head coach and tactician Aliyu Zubairu has claimed that insufficient oxygen in Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi, is part of the reason his Sudanese side lost 1-0 to Kenya’s Tusker FC in the second leg of the first round of the 2026/27 CAF Confederation Cup.
Speaking after the match at Nyayo National Stadium on Saturday, September 12, 2026, the Nigerian tactician said it was difficult for his players to adapt to the low oxygen levels in Nairobi, leading to his men suffering a costly defeat that saw them bow out of the competition with a 3-2 aggregate.
“Kenyan weather, sometimes you do not have enough oxygen, so when you are coming from where you have enough oxygen and you go to where there is no enough oxygen, there is definitely a kind of natural effect that will affect you. Some of the midfielders could not get themselves very well and they could not cope,” he said.
The Ruaraka-based Brewers secured their passage to the second preliminary round of the CAF Confederation Cup after Chrispine Erambo scored the only goal of the match as the former Kenyan Premier League champions prevailed 3-2 on aggregate to keep their continental campaign alive.
Tusker had entered the second leg needing to finish the job after throwing away a two-goal lead in the opening encounter in Kigali, where the two teams settled for a 2-2 draw.
Al Ahli made the brighter start in Nairobi, with Wagdi Awad registering the first attempt of the contest, although his effort failed to trouble the target.
Tusker gradually settled into the match and threatened on the break. Victor Mbaoma created space before releasing Ian Simiyu, whose attempt to bend the ball into the far corner was kept out by Al Ahli goalkeeper Mohamed Abdalla.
Mbaoma then had an opportunity of his own but could not keep his effort on target.
The home side continued to build pressure through a series of passes involving captain Abud Omar, Fabian Adikny, John Otieno and Stephen Odima. The move eventually opened up an opportunity for Erambo, but his ambitious effort ended with Tusker losing possession.
Erambo would soon make amends.
Tusker worked the ball forward through the wing before catching the visitors’ goalkeeper out of position. With Abdalla away from his goal, Erambo was left with an open net and calmly converted to give the Brewers the lead.
Al Ahli immediately searched for a response, but goalkeeper Perrauld Ndiga stood firm. He punched away another effort from Awad before dealing with the resulting corner.
Ndiga’s quick distribution almost allowed Tusker to extend their advantage, with Erambo getting forward as the Brewers looked to exploit spaces left by the Sudanese side.
John Orient was also forced into an important defensive intervention as Al Ahli continued to push for an equaliser.
Tusker made a series of substitutions in the second half as coach Julien Mette sought to maintain the team’s intensity and protect the lead.
Ian Simiyu made way for Abdoulie Joof, while Mbaoma and Erambo were later replaced by Eric Kapaito and December Dise Kisakah respectively.
Kisakah subsequently managed to create an opening for Kapaito after receiving the ball under pressure, but the substitute could not convert the chance.
Joof was booked as Tusker battled to preserve their narrow advantage.
The Brewers held on through the closing stages to register a 1-0 victory and complete a 3-2 aggregate triumph.
The result sends Mette’s team into the second preliminary round, where they will meet either Tanzanian outfit Singida Black Stars or South Sudan’s Al-Ghazal.
A place in the CAF Confederation Cup group stage will be at stake in the next round.
