For years, North African clubs have been the African football powerhouses. Al Ahly, Esperance, Zamalek, Wydad, RS Berkane, and USM Alger have made continental competition a habit, and not a hope. They do not just appear in the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup, they make them. Kenyan clubs by contrast, still venture into Africa as outsiders.
That is why the real question is not about whether the FKF Premier League has passion, talent or history. It clearly does. The issue is whether Kenyan clubs can develop the financial muscle, squad depth, infrastructure and winning culture needed to compete with the giants coming from Egypt, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia over the course of a whole continent campaign.
Betting angle: the odds are still in favour of North Africa
Put in the context of a football market, the North African clubs are still the safe favourites. CAF’s recent club rankings drive home this point. If you’re betting on the CAF competitions,finding the match you’re looking for will most likely involve a North African side. Al Ahly are sitting at the top while Esperance, Zamalek, Wydad, USM Alger and other North African sides are still sitting near the top. That is not a branding exercise, that is long term performance over many seasons.
The story is the same with respect to the 2025/26 CAF competitions. North African clubs are once again leading the way in the knockout debate with clubs from Egypt, Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia all well represented deep into both the major tournaments. That type of consistency is something that Kenyan Football is still struggling with. A good season is not good enough. The giants keep returning.
Value bet on Kenya? The league is improving, but it will take time
There are grounds for optimism though. Nairobi United’s path to the 2025/26 CAF Confederation Cup group stage was one of the better Kenyan stories over the past few years. For a debutant to edge out Tunisia’s Etoile du Sahel on penalties after a dramatic two-legged tie, levelled 2-2 on aggregate, and make it through to the groups demonstrated that Kenyan clubs are capable of performing upsets against respected opposition.
Domestically the FKF Premier League is competitive and unpredictable. Gor Mahia, AFC Leopards, Kenya Police, Tusker and others are still giving the title race recognisable weight while the newer challengers have added new freshness in the division. That is important because opportunities to have strong internal competition are generally the first step to getting strong continentally.
But better is not the same as equal. North African clubs are a combination of decent domestic leagues and better payrolls, deeper benches and much better administration and much greater experience with two-legged continental football. Kenyan clubs can come as a surprise; they still struggle to maintain them.
The greatest difference is not that of desire. It is structure.
North African giants operate in environments with bigger commercial ecosystems, better sponsorship potential, bigger matchday culture in big fixtures and much more consolidated continental routines. And they recruit with Africa in mind. Kenyan clubs tend to perform recruitment with the domestic season first and foremost and then only make adjustments for CAF competition.
That left a competitive gap that is visible. When the injuries strike, when travel is more intense, when the tactical detail is more important during 180 minutes of playing, elite North African clubs usually have more answers. They are built for attrition. Kenyan clubs are far too often made to attack bursts.
Infrastructure is also important. Kenya has taken visible strides around renovation of stadiums and modernisation of football courtesy of major regional football tournaments driving the investment. In the long-term, that can help elevate standards in officiating, facilities and player development. But infrastructure upgrades alone do not immediately make a continental powerhouse. They only provide the platform.
So, can the FKF Premier League compete with the North-African giants?
In isolated matches, yes. In short bursts, yes. In occasional runs about the cup absolutely. Nairobi United’s recent breakthrough in the continent is proof that the ceiling is not cemented forever.
But over the course of an entire season, and certainly over Champions League football, the answer is more tentative. The FKF Premier League is not really at the stage where the top teams really can go toe-to-toe with the North African big guns. The distance in money, continuity, depth and continental know-how is still too wide.
The smarter conclusion then is that Kenya is in the chasing pack, not the front row. To reduce that distance, FKF clubs need more stringent compliance with club licensing requirements, youth pipelines, more intelligent recruitment, more stable financing and consistent exposure to the high level of CAF football.
Until then, North Africa is the pick of bankers. Kenya, for now, is the high-upside outsider; dangerous on the right night, but not yet the favourite over two legs, let alone over a decade.
