3 Reasons Why Kenyan Football Fans Were Denied Live Access to CAF Confederation Cup Action

On Sunday afternoon, football fans across Kenya were left frustrated as  Nairobi United stunned  Tunisian giants Etoile Sportive du Sahel 2-0 in the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round at Ulinzi Sports Complex, Nairobi. 

Despite the thrilling performance, fans were unable to watch the match live, sparking widespread disappointment. Many had expected Azam TV to broadcast the game live, as they had done for Kenya Police’s CAF Champions League match against Sudan’s Al Hilal just two days earlier. However, Nairobi United’s clash against Etoile du Sahel remained off screens.

The absence of fans both in the stadium and in front of TV screens left a void in the atmosphere, depriving supporters of witnessing a historic milestone for Kenyan football. Social media was flooded with messages from fans seeking updates and highlights, highlighting the growing demand for live coverage of Kenyan clubs in continental competitions.

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The first and most immediate reason fans could not attend the match was the decision to play behind closed doors. CAF instructed that the fixture be held without spectators due to logistical and security concerns surrounding the national mourning period for former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Odinga, who passed away in India at the age of 80, was laid to rest in Bondo on the same day as the match.

Authorities argued that large crowds at the stadium could pose security risks given the nationwide mourning events, which included multiple ceremonies and gatherings in Nairobi and other counties. This precautionary measure was intended to avoid any clashes or disruptions during the sensitive period.

While the decision was understandable from a security standpoint, it left many fans disappointed, especially those who had planned to witness Nairobi United’s historic outing against a heavyweight Tunisian side. Social media platforms were flooded with messages of frustration and longing from supporters unable to experience the game live.

A second major reason fans were unable to watch the match was a breakdown in broadcasting negotiations. Unlike the CAF Champions League match between Kenya Police and Sudanese side Al Hilal, which was aired live by Azam TV, the Confederation Cup fixture did not reach screens due to a commercial disagreement between Nairobi United and the Tanzania-based broadcaster.

Ravi Kumar, the Country Head of Azam TV Kenya, confirmed that as the home team, Nairobi United owned the broadcast rights and quoted higher rates than Azam was willing to pay. Attempts to reach a compromise fell through, leaving fans without a televised option. Kumar hinted that future matches, should Kenyan clubs reach the group stages, may be broadcast under CAF’s centralized rights management.

This dispute highlighted the growing pains of Kenyan clubs navigating media rights in continental competitions. Fans, many of whom subscribe to Azam TV for local league matches, were caught in the middle, unable to see their team make history on the continental stage.

The third reason was a lack of timely communication and coordination between Etoile Sportive du Sahel, Nairobi United, and media outlets. Etoile publicly lamented that they were not provided with the agreed-upon media links to conduct interviews, signaling organizational lapses that trickled down to the fan experience.

Without proper coordination, even online streaming or delayed highlights were difficult to arrange, leaving fans reliant solely on post-match reports and social media updates. Nairobi United’s management had confirmed that all negotiations were in progress, but the time-sensitive nature of the fixture and overlapping logistical challenges meant that no solution could be reached before kick-off.

The combination of security concerns, broadcasting disputes, and communication gaps created a perfect storm that left fans in the dark despite an electrifying performance from Nairobi United. Goals from Ovella Ochieng’ and John Onyango cemented the team’s advantage ahead of the second leg in Tunisia, but supporters will have to wait until then for another opportunity to witness the team in continental action.