NEC Football Club’s first taste of continental football ended in heartbreak after Nairobi United grabbed a stoppage-time equalizer to force a dramatic 2-2 draw in the CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round first leg at the Hamz Stadium on Saturday night.
The Ugandan side looked on course for victory when substitute Paul Mucureezi converted a late penalty to give them a 2-1 advantage. But with virtually the last kick of the game, Kenyan forward Mwinyi Kibwana stunned the home crowd, slotting past veteran goalkeeper Benjamin Ochan to salvage a result for the visitors.
A historical day for the club! #NECCAFCCDebut |#TotalEnergiesCAFCC | #NECNAI | #Diehards pic.twitter.com/007VwapbS4
— NEC FC (@Nec_Fc) September 21, 2025
The match had opened with Nairobi United silencing the lively Nakivubo stands in the 28th minute. A long throw from Dancan Olouch caused chaos in the NEC area, and striker Enock Machaka ghosted in unmarked at the back post to steer the ball into the net.
NEC huffed and puffed, but could not find a response until deep in the second half. Their breakthrough came in the 78th minute when Cromwell Rwothomio rose highest to power home a header from a teasing Mustafa Kizza free-kick. Kizza, introduced at the interval, immediately justified his inclusion with his pinpoint delivery.
That goal gave NEC momentum, and when a late attacking surge earned them a spot-kick, substitute Mucureezi coolly slotted it home in the 90th minute, sparking wild celebrations on the touchline. Victory seemed sealed, but Nairobi United had one final trick up their sleeve.
In added time, a hopeful ball over the top found Kibwana, who raced clear of the defence and calmly finished to crush NEC’s hopes of a perfect continental debut.
FT#TotalEnergiesCAFCC | #NECNAI | #Diehards pic.twitter.com/GDGZST8Npd
— NEC FC (@Nec_Fc) September 20, 2025
The result leaves the tie finely balanced ahead of next weekend’s return leg in Nairobi, where both sides will chase a historic passage into the next round.
