OPINION: Can the Swiss model revive Kenyan clubs’ continental football glory?
Kenyan clubs once dominated African football, producing players revered across the continent. However, their presence in CAF club competitions has dwindled over the years. Could a change in competition format - modelled after UEFA’s latest revamp - be the key to their resurgence?
A pleasant surprise awaited Harambee Stars players when they landed in Monrovia in January 1989 for their 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Liberia. Liberian football fans had gathered at the airport, holding newspapers and eagerly glancing at them as the Kenyan squad passed by. Their main concern? Spotting Peter Dawo.
When they realised the then-Gor Mahia forward was missing, they immediately expressed their disappointment. “A player of his influence and quality should never be left out, even when injured. His presence alone would have provided moral support,” they told the Harambee Stars players. “In Liberia, we cannot play a match without George Weah in the squad.”
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This moment underscored the continental appeal of Kenyan players at the time. Gor Mahia’s 1987 Mandela Cup triumph had catapulted its stars to prominence, with Dawo and Ambrose Ayoyi earning nominations for the 1987 African Footballer of the Year award.
Fast forward to today, and the story is starkly different. The current crop of Harambee Stars players, especially those based locally, can only dream of such recognition. Kenyan clubs have struggled to impress in CAF competitions, and with top African clubs no longer featuring Kenyan players, the country’s footballing image has suffered.
Did CAF’s 1997 format change hurt Kenyan clubs?
Historically, Kenyan teams were competitive in CAF club competitions. However, the turning point arguably came in 1997 when CAF revamped its tournament structure. Previously, CAF club competitions followed a straightforward knockout format until the final. But that year, CAF adopted a group stage model, mirroring a change UEFA had made in 1992 when it rebranded its premier club competition as the UEFA Champions League.
This shift required African clubs to navigate qualifier rounds to reach the newly introduced group stage, which initially featured just eight teams. Over time, the structure increasingly favoured wealthier clubs, making it harder for Kenyan teams to progress. Even after CAF expanded the group stage to 16 teams in 2017, Kenyan clubs continued to struggle against better-funded opponents.
UEFA’s Swiss Model and its potential impact on CAF
In 2024, UEFA introduced a radical overhaul of its club competitions, scrapping the traditional group stage and expanding participation. The UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and UEFA Conference League now feature 36 teams each, with clubs competing in a league-phase format rather than fixed groups.
Under this new model, teams in the Champions League and Europa League play eight matches against different opponents, while those in the Conference League play six. Home-and-away fixtures have been replaced with a system where teams face some opponents at home and others away.
Initially met with scepticism, the format has since gained praise for its unpredictability and drama. The league-phase climax of the 2024–25 UEFA Champions League, which saw 18 matches kicking off simultaneously as teams battled for top spots, showcased its competitiveness.
Given CAF’s history of looking to UEFA for structural inspiration, it remains to be seen whether Africa’s governing body will adopt a similar format for the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup.
Would an expanded CAF Champions League benefit Kenyan clubs?
If CAF were to implement the ‘Swiss Model,’ it would likely mean expanding its club competitions to 24 or even 32 teams. This would increase Kenyan clubs' chances of qualifying regularly, potentially reviving the eras when AFC Leopards, Gor Mahia, and Kenya Breweries (now Tusker FC) were continental forces.
However, while expansion could offer Kenyan teams more opportunities, it is no silver bullet. The CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup have long struggled to match the popularity of UEFA’s club tournaments and even local European leagues among African fans.
Moreover, the financial implications of increasing the number of matches would be significant. More fixtures would drive up operating costs for both CAF and participating clubs. Player burnout could also become a concern, especially with CAF competitions already being played on weekends, potentially impacting domestic league viewership and attendance.
Another key challenge is the preservation of home-and-away fixtures. Many African clubs see these as a crucial factor in levelling the playing field. Eliminating return legs could encourage even more gamesmanship, as home teams would no longer have to worry about payback for any hostility they show visiting sides. These realities might make CAF hesitant to adopt the format.
The Real solution
Instead of banking on a CAF restructuring to restore Kenyan clubs' former glory, the responsibility falls on FKF and local clubs to make themselves competitive again. Stronger youth development, better club management, and financial stability are crucial.
Only then can Kenyan teams return to the days when Harambee Stars players were met at African airports by eager fans, scanning newspapers and expressing disappointment at the absence of a star Kenyan player.
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