0 Points, 100% Heart: Why Nairobi United are Still Heroes

The world of sports is often measured in podiums and gold, yet the most enduring stories frequently belong to those who simply refused to stop.

The 1968 Mexico City Olympics were defined by the thin, oxygen-deprived air of high altitude. As the marathon progressed, many elite runners collapsed, unable to cope with the environment. Among them was John Stephen Akhwari, a Tanzanian runner who had entered the race as the African champion.

At the 19-kilometer mark, tragedy struck. Caught in a melee of jostling athletes, Akhwari was knocked to the pavement. He suffered a dislocated knee, a crushed shoulder, and deep gashes to his legs. While 18 of the 75 starters withdrew that day, Akhwari allowed medics to apply a makeshift bandage and limped back onto the track.

Over an hour after the winner, Mamo Wolde of Ethiopia, had crossed the finish line and the sun had begun to set, the few thousand spectators remaining in the stadium heard the sirens of a police escort. Akhwari entered the stadium, his leg bloody and his pace a painful shuffle. When he finally crossed the line, a journalist asked why he hadn't quit. His response became the ultimate sporting mantra:

"My country did not send me 5,000 miles to start the race; they sent me 5,000 miles to finish the race."

Mirroring that spirit of defiance, the story of Nairobi United (often called the Naibois) has gripped East African football. Despite a grueling campaign in the 2025/2026 CAF Confederation Cup where they lost all six of their group-stage matches, the club is being hailed as history-makers.

Their journey to the continental stage was nothing short of a fairy tale. In the 2024/25 season, Nairobi United achieved a historic domestic double while largely operating as a second-tier club.

• The NSL Title: They clinched the National Super League trophy to earn promotion to the Kenyan Premier League.

• The FKF Cup: In a "David vs. Goliath" finale, they stunned record champions Gor Mahia 2-1 in the Mozzart Bet Cup final, with goals from Frank Ouya and Enock Machaka.

This feat made them the first Kenyan club to qualify for a continental group stage as a newly promoted side, and the first to represent the country at this level since 2018.

Nairobi United's Group B campaign was a "baptism by fire" against African giants. Though they finished with 0 points, their resilience—much like Akhwari's—drew respect.

While Nairobi United struggled for points, their neighbors, Azam FC (The Ice Cream Makers), finally broke their own "continental ceiling." After years of heavy investment and multiple attempts, the 2025/26 season marked the first time in the club’s history (and 21 years since the competition's inception) that they reached the CAF Confederation Cup group stage. Under the guidance of Florent Ibenge, Azam finished 3rd in the group with 9 points, narrowly missing out on the quarterfinals but cementing their status as a rising force.

Finishing a group stage with 0 points is a rare and painful record, previously shared by teams like Al-Hilal Al-Ubayyid (Sudan) in 2018. However, Nairobi United's "history" isn't found in the standings—it's in the fact that they reached the pinnacle of African football as a team that was in the second division just months prior.

Much like Akhwari in 1968, Nairobi United may have finished last, but in the eyes of their fans, they didn't just start the race—they saw it through to the very end.