Harambee Stars defender Siraj Mohammed will miss Tusker FC’s CAF Confederation Cup first-round opener against Sudanese side Al-Ahli Wad Medani after his recent move from Gor Mahia came too soon for him to be registered for the opening stage of the competition.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsTusker will begin their continental campaign on Sunday, 5 September.Siraj joined the Brewers on loan in August after returning to Gor Mahia from a temporary stint at KCB FC. However, because he had already been registered by Gor for the CAF competition, his subsequent move to Tusker could not be processed in time for the first preliminary round.Charlton manager hails transfer business involving signing of Harambee Stars midfielderExplaining his absence, Siraj said the timing of his departure from Gor was the main reason he will not feature against Al-Ahli Wad Medani.“I had been registered with Gor Mahia. I left Gor two days before the closure of the transfer window, so I believe they had already registered my name and everything. That is why it has been difficult for me to be registered in time for the first leg. But I am hopeful that after the first round, I will join the team,” he told Mozzart Sport.##NAJAVA_MECA_9930456##CAF has set specific registration windows for the 2026/27 CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup, meaning clubs cannot freely add players immediately before every round.For the first preliminary round, player registration was open from August 1 to August 15. The second preliminary-round window runs from August 16 to September 30, while players for the group stage can be registered between October 1 and October 31. A final registration window will run from January 1 to January 31, 2027.The timing of Siraj's transfer therefore worked against him.History as Harambee Starlets captain qualifies for UEFA Champions LeagueAlthough his move to Tusker was completed in August, he had already been registered by Gor Mahia and Tusker's first preliminary-round squad had to comply with CAF's registration deadline.Importantly, the 2026/27 registration framework does not provide for a simple late-registration payment that would allow Tusker to add Siraj for the first leg. CAF confirmed that registrations completed within the designated windows do not attract fines.Siraj will instead have to wait for the next applicable registration period before he can represent Tusker in the Confederation Cup.##NAJAVA_MECA_9930459##The situation is particularly frustrating for the defender, who moved to the Brewers specifically to secure regular playing time and rebuild his momentum.The move to Tusker came after a difficult period at Gor Mahia.Siraj joined Gor after completing a high-profile move from Bandari FC but struggled to establish himself in Charles Akonnor's starting XI.Tusker coach reveals lessons learned after accompanying players to watch Malkia StrikersThe emergence of teenage academy graduate Bryton Onyona, coupled with competition from Levin Odhiambo, restricted his opportunities and left him concerned about his match fitness.Seeking more playing time, the left-back secured a six-month loan move to KCB FC during the second half of the 2025/26 season.The spell at KCB helped him regain valuable minutes before he returned to Gor Mahia for pre-season.##NAJAVA_MECA_9930417##Siraj subsequently featured for K'Ogalo during the CECAFA Kagame Cup in Rwanda, allowing him to regain his rhythm and assess his situation.However, he felt another move was necessary after failing to secure assurances over regular football at Gor.That eventually led to his loan switch to Tusker in August.Mette lays out long-term vision as Tusker return to continental stage“Last season was not one of my best, especially during the first leg. I opted to join KCB on loan, and I can see that move worked for me. After that, I returned to Gor Mahia, and we went to CECAFA. I had some time to reflect on my situation and realised that I needed another move, hence my decision to join Tusker FC,” he explained.Despite being ruled out of the first leg, Siraj has quickly settled into life at Tusker and believes his familiarity with several players has made his transition easier.##NAJAVA_MECA_9930458##“It feels good to be at Tusker. My fellow players have welcomed me well, and I already know most of them, so we are familiar with each other. That has made it easy for me to gel with the team,” he said.The move also allows the Harambee Stars defender to return to the continental stage.Siraj has already experienced international competition with Kenya, having been selected for the national team during the African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament.Harambee Stars goalkeeper targets supremacy after rejoining TuskerHe believes continental football can provide an important platform for players looking to attract attention from bigger clubs.“Every player aims to play in CAF competitions because they give you a platform to showcase your talent and get noticed by big teams. That is exactly what I experienced during CECAFA,” he said.Tusker's immediate task is to negotiate their way past Al-Ahli Wad Medani.##NAJAVA_MECA_9930418##The Brewers earned their place in the CAF Confederation Cup after beating Kenya Police 2-1 in the Mozzart Bet Cup final in June, ending a 10-year wait for the trophy.Should Tusker advance, Siraj is hopeful of being registered for the next stage and finally making his continental debut for his new club.For now, he remains focused on maintaining his fitness and being ready when his opportunity arrives.Mozzart Bet Cup champions lead big-spending clubs in concluded off-season transfer window“You can expect to see the same Siraj. It is just me. Even when I was at Gor Mahia, the few minutes I got, I made them count. I will keep doing the same and making every opportunity count. Ndovu ni kuu,” he said.CAF's 2026/27 format has 56 clubs entering the Confederation Cup, with 48 teams contesting the first preliminary round and the eight highest-ranked sides entering at the second preliminary-round stage.