FKF Cup champions Tusker FC returns to the continental football this weekend when they play Sudanese side Al Ahli Madani in the first preliminary round of the 2026/27 CAF Confederation Cup.
The Brewers will face Al Ahli Madani at the Kigali Pele Stadium in Rwanda on Saturday, 5 September, before hosting the Sudanese side in the return leg in Nairobi on 12 September.
The campaign marks Tusker’s return to CAF competition after four years, with the Brewers last featuring on the continental stage during the 2021/22 season.
It is also a significant return for a club with a proud history in African football. In 1994, when the club competed as Kenya Breweries FC, the Brewers reached the final of the African Cup Winners’ Cup.
More than three decades later, Tusker head into the continental campaign with a strengthened squad and renewed ambitions under Head Coach Juliet Mette.
The Club has brought in a mix of experienced players and young prospects during the close season as they prepare for a demanding campaign across domestic and continental competitions.
The team also carries early-season momentum into the CAF campaign after defeating Gor Mahia 3-1 in the FKF Super Cup to claim the first trophy of the 2026/27 season.
Speaking during the team’s send-off, KBL Marketing & Innovation Director Mark Mugisha said the return to continental football was an important milestone for the club.
“We are proud to see Tusker FC return to the continental stage. This is an opportunity for the team to build on the club’s proud history in African football and create a new chapter. We believe in this team and want them to compete with confidence and represent Tusker and Kenya with pride,” said Mugisha.
Mugisha urged the team to carry the momentum from their Super Cup success into the continental campaign.
“The Super Cup was a great start to the season, but this is another level of challenge. Our message to the team is simple; go out there, compete, play your football and make Kenya proud. We will be behind you throughout the journey,” he added.
For Mette, the team’s recent competitive experience has provided valuable preparation for the demands of African football.
Tusker’s participation in the recent CECAFA tournament in Rwanda gave the new-look squad exposure to regional opposition, while the Super Cup victory over Gor Mahia provided another competitive test ahead of the CAF campaign.
Mette also emphasised the importance of building a clear identity and style of play as the team balances the immediate demands of winning with the long-term development of its young players.
“We have a new cycle for the club. We have brought in experienced players who can provide leadership, alongside young players who have potential and are part of the project. We have to win, but we also have to develop these young players,” said Mette.
The coach says the team’s focus is not only on progressing from the opening round, but also on building a side capable of competing consistently at continental level.
“For me, the long term is more important. We have to have a proper identity, a type of play and a style of play. We must be strong and respect our principles. This is how we win in the long term,” she added.
The Al Ahli Madani tie will provide the first test of that approach, with Tusker looking to make a strong start in Kigali before returning home for the second leg.
Progression over the two legs would take Tusker into the next round and one step closer to the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup.
For now, the Brewers’ immediate focus is on making a positive start in Kigali before bringing the tie home to Nairobi