Kakamega Homeboyz could not pick up a win on their CAF Confederation Cup debut after they were held to a 0-0 draw by Al Hilal Benghazi of Libya on Saturday, August 19, 2023, at Nyayo Stadium.

The Football Kenya Federation Premier League side, which qualified for the continental competition by winning the FKF Cup, could not get a win even though they enjoyed the home advantage in the preliminary round showdown.

Chances

Meanwhile, Al Hilal called for a penalty in the 10th minute, but their appeal was dismissed, and thus Hoemboyz survived an early setback.

Al Hilal’s goalkeeper, Husamedin Ahmed, made a vital save to keep Moses Shummah’s strike out in the 15th minute. The visiting custodian was called to action again in the 17th minute when he had to react quickly and stop Estone Esiye’s strike.

Al Hilal kept pushing forward even though the home side was more dominant in the first half. The Libyan outfit almost broke the deadlock in the 40th minute, but Erick Ambunya saved the day for Homeboyz by producing a vital clearance inside the box.

Oscar Paul, who came in for Shummah at the hour mark, almost scored the opening goal, but he could not compose himself as he fired wide, although he was in a great scoring position.

The second-half substitute had another chance to break the deadlock in the 88th minute but saw his shot deflected out, denying Homeboyz what would have been a vital goal ahead of the return leg.

Odhiambo’s take

In his post-match reaction, Homeboyz‘s head coach, Patrick Odhiambo, blamed his side’s inability to convert their numerous chances into goals.

“We created many chances, but we failed to convert them, and that’s something that we have to work on.

“We had many opportunities, but we just couldn’t put the ball behind the net, and that means we have to do a lot of finishing work in training before the return leg,” Odhiambo said, as quoted by a local media publication.

Kakamega Homeboyz Starting XI: Farouk Shikalo, Erick Ambunya, Brian Wekesa, Robinson Kamura, Brian Eshihanda, Estone Esiye, Moses Mudavadi, Hillary Juma, Kevin Amwayi, Ambrose Sifuna, Moses Shumah.

Subs: Paul Adam, Potipher Odhiambo, Alex Imbusia, John Otieno, Christopher Masinza, Brian Buleti, Stephen Opoku, Gospel Okoth, James Ssetuba

Al Hilal Benghazi Starting XI: Husamedin Ahmed, Bashier Alkarami, Mohamed Abdullah, Jaefar Iddriss, Osman Alshareef, Aboubakar, Meelad, Kevin Eze, Abdilkadir Ghorab, Ahmed Ramadhan, Ibrahim Abdulhadi, Abdulsalam Muftah

Subs: Ahmed Aliadawi, Khaled Almsmari, Kelvin Andoh, Ezzeddin Elmarmi, Salim Mohamed