The curtains will come down on Friday with the final of the CECAFA Kagame Cup 2026 between Rayon Sport FC and Gor Mahia FC takes place at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda.

Supported by the Rwanda President Paul Kagame since 2002, the regional tournament which has grown in stature returned to Rwanda after seven years.

This year the tournament attracted 12 teams from nine countries and the head coaches of various teams have all hyped praise on Rwanda for being good hosts.

Hababuu Ali Omar (KVZ SC Coach): “This has been a well organized tournament and we are happy that it also gave us opportunity to prepare the team ahead of the new season.”

Guy Bukasa Misakabu (Al Hilal SC Coach): “The CECAFA Kagame Cup has given us the best chance to test the squad ahead of a busy new season. Rwanda have been very good hosts and we have liked the tournament.”

Saber Ben Jabria (Jamus SC Coach): “The organisation of the tournament by CECAFA has been good and the hosts Rwanda have also been good. The tournament has helped me test and know players since I am a new coach.”

Steven Robert Barker (Simba SC Coach): “Rwanda have been very good hosts because everything was well arranged together with CECAFA. Since it was pre-season it gave us good opportunity to test players.”

Harringingo Francis Christian (Rayon Sport FC Coach): “Getting to the final after winning all matches has been a good things for us during this pre-season tournament. We have loved the way of organistion by hosts Rwanda and CECAFA.”

Dadir Amin Ali (Mogadishu City Club Coach): “This tournament gave us the chance to test the team well since we are still playing the League back in Somalia and also preparation for the CAF Confederation Cup.”

Kadir Ahmed Robleh (Garde Republicaine FC Coach): “We liked the level of organisation by Rwanda and CECAFA. The tournament gave us chance for good exposure with other teams around the region.”

Denis Jean Lavagne (Vipers SC Coach): “As a new coach at the Club this tournament has given my a good insight of what kind of players we have and how we can sue them in the season. The Kagame Cup was well organized and we thank Rwanda and CECAFA.”

Taleb Abderrahim (APR FC Coach): “It was disappointing that we failed to qualify form the group. But we learnt lessons that will help us as we continue with the pre-season ahead of a busy new season. We thank the hosts and organisers of the tournament.”

Papy Okitankoyi Kimoto (Singida Black Stars FC Coach): “Although we failed to defend the title, the tournament gave us good ground to practice and try out several players ahead of the bust season. Rwanda were very good hosts.”

Charles Kwabian Akonnor (Gor Mahia FC Coach): “ This has been a well organised tournament and we thank Rwanda and CECAFA for the good work. It has helped us as a team to prepare better during this pre-season and the bonus is getting to the final.”

Three time regional champions Gor Mahia FC and Rayon Sport FC will clash in the CECAFA Kagame Cup 2026 final on Friday.

The Kenya Premier League reigning champions ejected Al Hilal SC (Sudan), while Rwanda’s Rayon Sport FC saw off Jamus SC (South Sudan) in the semi-final matches played on Tuesday at the Kigali Pele Stadium.

In the first match Steven Ebuela netted an own goal after 34 minutes to give Gor Mahia the lead.

But the Sudan giants attacked in numbers sand leveled matters 10 minutes later through Ansumana Samura.

After recess the two teams came all out and created several scoring opportunities, but failed to score. Gor Mahia had Jackson Dwang sent off with a second bookable offence.

Thirty more minutes were played, but the teams failed to score. Gor Mahia came out top 8-7 on penalty shoot-outs.

Charles Kwablan Akonnor, the Gor Mahia FC coach praised his team for the hard work. “I thank the players for playing their hearts out and winning against a strong Al Hilal team,” added Akonnor.

The second semi-final match watched by a capacity crowd saw Rayon Sport FC dominate play. Akbar Museri gave the Rwanda side the lead after 17 minutes after the Jamus SC defending line was caught off guard.

Joseph Stephen Dhata had a chance to level matters for Jamus SC after 44 minutes, but shot straight at the Rayon Sport FC goalkeeper Dande Junior.

In the second half Ibrahim Mansouru Djingarey made it 2-0 for Rayon Sport after 59 minutes as the fans cheered on. But substitute Diallo Bandiougou pulled a goal back for Jamus SC after 70 minutes.

With two minutes to time substitute Gloire Ngongo Tambwe also got his name on the score sheet for Rayon Sport FC to make it 3-1.

Harringingo Francis Christian, the Rayon Sport FC head coach made it clear that after going past the semi-final stage, they now want to win the trophy.  

“I am happy that we have won all our four matches played in the tournament and this also gives us good preparations ahead of the new season,” added the coach.

The final will be played on Friday at the Amahoro Stadium. The champion will bag US$30,000, while the runner-up takes US$20,000, and the third placed team US$10,000.

All roads lead to the Kigali Pele Stadium on Tuesday to witness the semi-final stage of the regional CECAFA Kagame Cup 2026.

The first match will see three time winners Gor Mahia FC from Kenya face Al Hilal SC (Sudan) in what promises to be a thriller.

Guy Bukasa has made it clear that his Al Hilal side will walk on to the pitch with one mission to win and get to the final. “We are in the semi-final and the target is to win. When you reach this stage of the competition, you have to fight to make the final,” says Bukasa.

He said although they respect Gor Mahia FC, his team is well prepared for the match in all aspects. “Gor Mahia deserve our respect. The tactical approach will be very important because both teams like to build from the goalkeepers,” added Bukasa.

Gor Mahia coach Charles Akonnor also made it clear that although they respect Al Hilal as a strong force in African Football, the Kenyan champions are well prepared for the encounter.

“We believe in ourselves as Gor Mahia and together with the support of our fans we are ready to carry the fly high,” added Akonnor.

Gor Mahia defender Daniel Sakari Macheso, also made it clear that the boys are geared up for the semi-final clash.

Interestingly the two teams go into the knock-out stage having each netted six goals and conceded more in the group stage to finish with six points respectively.

The second semi-final between surprise package Jamus SC from South Sudan and home side Rayon Sport FC also promises to be a tough battle.

Francis Haringingo, the Rayon Sport coach admits the match will be very tough against a Jamus SC side that topped a tough group that had holders Singida Black Stars and Simba SC. “We shall give everything possible to reach the final,” he added.

The Jamus SC head coach Saber Ben Jabria says his team is ready for the challenge. “We are not scared playing infront of the home crowd because the boys are ready and determined to prove a point,” added the coach.

The two teams go into the semi-final as the only unbeaten sides in the group stage. Rayon Sports FC where the only team to collect maximum points in the group, while Jamus SC picked two wins and a draw.

A total of US$60,000 prize money courtesy of the Rwanda President Paul Kagame awaits the top three teams. The winner will bag US$30,000, the ruuner-up US$20,000 and te third placed team US$10,000.

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.