Kenya Police FC’s inaugural campaign in the CAF Champions League came to an abrupt end on Friday, October 24, 2025, following a 4-1 aggregate defeat to Sudanese powerhouse Al Hilal Omdurman in the second preliminary round. The elimination from Africa's premier club competition means the reigning Kenyan champions have missed out on a substantial financial reward of at least KSh 90.3 million (USD 700,000), the minimum prize money guaranteed for reaching the lucrative group stage.

The FKF Premier League titleholders were defeated 3-1 in the second leg at the Benina Martyrs Stadium in Benghazi, Libya, where Al Hilal hosts its home matches due to ongoing instability in Sudan. This followed a narrow 1-0 loss in the first leg, which was played behind closed doors at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi on Friday, October 17, 2025. Malian forward Adama Coulibaly scored the crucial away goal in Nairobi, giving the Sudanese side a decisive advantage.

The Financial Cost of Defeat

By failing to advance to the group stage, Kenya Police FC has forfeited a significant financial injection that could have fundamentally altered the club's operational and developmental capacity. According to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) prize money structure for the 2025-26 season, teams that qualify for the group stage are guaranteed a minimum of USD 700,000 (approximately KSh 90.3 million). This figure is awarded to teams finishing third or fourth in their respective groups.

The financial rewards increase significantly for teams that progress further. Quarter-finalists receive USD 900,000, semi-finalists USD 1.2 million, the runner-up USD 2 million, and the tournament winner a grand prize of USD 4 million. For their participation in the preliminary rounds, Kenya Police FC will receive a recently doubled participation grant of USD 100,000 (approximately KSh 12.9 million), a figure confirmed by CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe to support clubs with logistical costs. However, this amount pales in comparison to the potential earnings from a group stage berth, which also unlocks further revenue streams from sponsorships and broadcast rights.

A Difficult Continental Journey

The club's journey marked their first-ever appearance in the continental tournament. They began their campaign against Somalia's Mogadishu City Club in the first preliminary round. Despite a commanding 3-1 victory in the first leg, Police faced a scare in the return fixture in Nairobi, losing 2-0. They ultimately progressed to the second round on the away goals rule after a 3-3 aggregate tie.

The defeat to Al Hilal continues a challenging trend for Kenyan clubs in continental competitions, particularly against established teams from North Africa. No Kenyan club has ever qualified for the CAF Champions League group stage in its current format. Gor Mahia FC remains the only Kenyan side to have reached the group stage of a continental competition, achieving this in the second-tier CAF Confederation Cup during the 2018 and 2018-19 seasons. The early exit for Kenya Police FC underscores the significant gap in financial muscle, experience, and tactical execution between Kenyan clubs and the continent's elite.

The elimination serves as a stark reminder of the financial stakes and competitive hurdles facing Kenyan teams on the African stage. While the increased preliminary round funding from CAF is a welcome boost, the real financial and sporting rewards remain locked in the later stages of the competition, a goal that continues to elude Kenyan representatives.