Tusker striker Eric Kapaito takes on Posta Rangers defenders during a friendly match/HANDOUT
Tusker FC will open their 2026/27 CAF Confederation Cup campaign against Sudanese side Al Ahli Madani on Saturday, with coach Julien Mette confident his revamped squad is ready for the demands of continental football.
The first leg will be played in Sudan, with the return fixture scheduled for September 12 as the Brewers make their return to the Confederation Cup for the first time since 1994.
Tusker secured their continental ticket after beating Kenya Police 2-1 in the FKF Mozzart Bet Cup final in June, earning their first major cup title in a decade and a place in Africa's second-tier club competition.
Their preparations have included participation in the CECAFA Kagame Cup in Rwanda, where they faced some of the region's leading teams, including Sudanese giants Al Hilal.
“The Kagame Cup was important for us because it gave us a preview of the level and intensity we will face in the Confederation Cup,” Mette said.
The Brewers lost to Al Hilal and hosts Rayon Sports before ending their campaign with victory over Zanzibar's KVZ. Despite the early exit, Mette regarded the tournament as useful preparation for a squad that had limited time to train together.
“We were not ready when we started the Kagame Cup because our preparation was very short, but it was a good learning experience for the team,” he said.
Tusker then produced an encouraging performance in the FKF Super Cup on August 23, beating reigning league champions Gor Mahia 3-1 at Nyayo Stadium.
Francis Oduor, Eugene Ikutwa and Ian Simiyu scored as the Brewers lifted the trophy, giving the team an early boost ahead of their continental assignment.
“It’s a great start. This was a competitive match against the league champions and CECAFA Kagame Cup finalists—not a friendly,” Mette said after the victory.
The French coach was particularly pleased with the way his players dealt with Gor Mahia's pressure, especially after the interval, and considered the performance a useful measure of their progress.
“We scored three quality goals and handled their pressure well. Tactically, technically, and mentally, it was a strong performance,” he added.
The club has also strengthened its squad with several new arrivals ahead of a demanding season. Nigerian striker Victor Mbaoma, Ivorian winger Aboubacar Doumbia, Congolese goalkeeper Pavelh Ndzila and Gambian forward Abdoulie Joof are among the new signings.
Experienced defender Abud Omar has also returned from Kenya Police, adding experience to a squad that has undergone considerable changes during the off-season.
Mette has stressed that squad depth will be important as Tusker balance domestic commitments with their continental campaign.
“We need to build a stronger and deeper squad if we want to compete with Africa's top clubs,” he said before the Super Cup.
The Brewers continued their preparations with two more friendlies. They beat Kenya Police 2-1 on August 26, with new signing Joof and Fabian Adikiny scoring, before losing 2-1 to Posta Rangers on August 29.
Mette is not reading too much into the friendly results, instead using the matches to identify weaknesses and sharpen his team's tactical approach ahead of the trip to Sudan.
“I urge patience following our early exit because the tournament has fulfilled its primary objective of preparing the team,” he said of the Kagame Cup experience.
There have also been encouraging developments on the injury front. Captain Abud Omar returned to light individual training on August 27 after missing three weeks with an ankle sprain, while Mbaoma resumed training after recovering from a cut suffered during an earlier friendly against Mombasa United.
The delayed start of the FKF Premier League has also affected Tusker's preparations, with their opening domestic fixtures postponed amid an ongoing High Court injunction over the league's relegation dispute.
As a result, the Brewers will head into their continental campaign without competitive league minutes, although the delay has given Mette additional time to work on tactical details with his players.
“For us, it's a pre-season; it's like a training camp,” he said after the Kagame Cup, explaining the circumstances surrounding their limited preparation.
Tusker's return to continental competition follows their last CAF campaign in 2021/22, when they featured in both the Champions League and Confederation Cup.
They defeated Djibouti's Arta Solar 7-1 on aggregate in the Champions League preliminary round before losing 5-0 on aggregate to Egyptian giants Zamalek in the second preliminary round.
The Brewers subsequently dropped into the Confederation Cup play-off round, where they drew 0-0 with Tunisia's CS Sfaxien in Nairobi before losing 1-0 in the return leg in Sfax.
Mette believes the experience gained during the pre-season has given his players a better understanding of the demands awaiting them in Africa.
“If I am looking forward to the future, I know this was the type of game we need for our pre-season to be alert and see what the reality is in the CAF Confederation Cup,” he said.
The immediate task is to secure a favourable result against Al Ahli Madani in Sudan before the two sides meet again in the return leg on September 12.
