The 2025 CAF Men’s Best referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan will officiate the final of the CECAFA Kagame Cup 2026.

Jean Sseninde, the Interim Executive Director of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) announced the news on Sunday.

The Somali referee together with two assistants Liban Abdulrazack (Djibouti) and Eliezer Stephen Yiembe (Kenya) who were appointed to officiate the UEFA Super Cup on August 12^th in Salzburg will all handle the CECAFA Kagame Cup final at the Amahoro Stadium on August 7^th.

“On behalf of CECAFA. I warmly welcome Artan back to our region as he officiates at the CECAFA Kagame Cup 2026. Artan has become a symbol of excellence in African refereeing, and his remarkable achievements continue to inspire young match officials across the continent. His presence at our flagship competition reflects the high standards that CECAFA is committed to promotion, and we are proud that one of our own continues to represent Africa with distinction on the world stage,” says the CECAFA President Paulos Weldehaimanot Andemariam.

The trio are expected to arrive in Kigali on Tuesday as they will also be expected to use the CECAFA Kagame Cup platform to prepare for the 2026 UEFA Super Cup between UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain and UEFA Europa League winners Aston Villa FC.

The CECAFA Kagame Cup semi final will take place on August 4^th with Gor Mahia FC (Kenya) facing Al Hilal SC, while home side Rayon Sport FC take on Jamus SC (South Sudan).

The champions will pocket US$30,000, while the runner-up takes US$20,000, and the third placed US$10,000.

The semi-final stage of the CECAFA Kagame Cup 2026 is set for August 4^th at the Kigali Pele Stadium, Rwanda.

After the final group stages climaxed on Saturday, Rayon Sport FC and Al Hilal SC have joined Gor Mahia and Jamus SC at the knock-out stage.

Rayon Sport FC, who will represent Rwanda in the TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup defeated Al Hilal SC (Sudan) 1-0 in the last group tie to come out top.

The Blues netted through Atisso Kodjo after 17 minutes to ensure they finished the group stage with maximum nine points.

Rayon Sport FC will now face surprise package Jamus SC from South Sudan in the second semi-final clash.

Christian Francis Haringingo, the Rayon Sport FC head coach said he was happy to get to the next stage after winning all three matches. “This is part of pre-season and we are now ready to face any team in the semi-final stage,” says Haringingo.

The Sudan side who finished as the best second placed team will now face Gor Mahia FC (Kenya) in the fiurst semi-final tie in what promises to be a thriller.

Another Kenyan side Tusker FC also secured the only win in the competition after seeing off KVZ FC 2-0 in a Group C match played at the Kigali Pele Stadium.

Ian Simiyu and Victor Mbaoma netted the goals for the Kenya Premier League side.

South Sudan’s Jamus SC are the second team to book a place in the semi-final at the on-going CECAFA Kagame Cup 2026.

Jamus SC struggled from a goal down to defeat Mogadishu City Club 2-1 in a tough Group B match played at the Kigali Pele Stadium on Friday.

An own goal by Thomas Eta gave Somalia’s Mogadishu City Club the lead after 40 minutes to silence the Jamus SC fans in the Stadium.

Adfter recess Jamus SC pushed forward to scored two goals through substitute Mario Taban Cherelino and Laurent Ramazani. The win pushed Jamus SC to top of the table with 7 points.

Saber Ben Jabria, the Jamus SC coach said he was proud of his team that picked two victories and drew once in Group B. “We now start focusing on the semi-final,” added the Tunisian.

In the second Group B tie Simba SC humbled 2025 winners Singida Black Stars FC in an all Tanzanian affair clash held at the Amahoro Stadium.

Malian International Ibrahim Doumbia gave Simba SC the lead after 27 minutes, but Mathew Tegisis leveled matters for Singida Black Stars after 41 minutes.

Elie Mpanzu netted Simba SC’s winning goal after 66 minutes.

After Gor Mahia FC (Kenya) and Jamus SC have booked places in the semi-finals, focus will turn to the two Group C matches on Saturday with Al Hilal SC (Sudan) facing Rayon Sport FC (Rwanda), while Tusker FC (Kenya) battle Zanzibar’s KVZ FC.

Kenya Premier League reigning champions Gor Mahia FC have qualified for the semi-final stage at the on-going CECAFA Kagame Cup 2026.

The 10-man Gor Mahia FC side edged Garde Republicaine FC (Djibouti) 1-0 in their last Group A match played on Thursday to seal their top spot after Vipers SC suffered a 2-1 defeat to APR FC.

Paul Okoth netted the lone goal for Gor Mahia FC after only 4 minutes. The Kenya side continued to dominate play at the Kigali Pele Stadium, but Garde Republicaine defended in numbers.

Gor Mahia FC’s Alpha Chris Onyango was later sent-off after 69 minutes. Charles Kwablan Akonnor, the Gor Mahia coach praised his players for getting the job done and qualifying for the knock out stage of the tournament.

“We have managed two wins against APR FC and Garde Republicaine and lost to Vipers SC. But besides this being a good pre-season for us, we have also achieved one o the targets which is getting to the later stages of the tournament,” added Akonnor.

While Gor Mahia FC who are chasing a fourth CECAFA Kagame Cup title finished top of Group A with 6 points and a goal difference of five goals, Vipers SC who have the same number of points and a goal difference of three goals will have to wait after all other matches are complete to determine if they make it to the semi-finals.

APR FC netted through Mamadou Traore and Djibril Quattara, while Gusto Mulongo scored for the Ugandan League giants Vipers SC.

Congolese defender Kevin Dasylva Bady was sent off later in the second half for Vipers SC. APR FC bowed out of the tournament despite finishing with 6 points and a lower goal diffrence.

Action continues on Friday with 2025 winners Singida Black Stars FC facing Simba SC in an all Tanzanian affair at the Amahoro Stadium, while Group B table leaders Jamus SC take on Mogadishu City Club at the Kigali Pele Stadium.

 Gor Mahia FC will now wait to face the top team in Group C, while the leading team in Group B will face the Best second placed team.

The winners will walk away with US$30,000, the runners-up US20,000, while the third placed team collects US$10,000.