Kenya Premier League reigning champions, Gor Mahia FC have made an early arrival in Kigali, Rwanda ahead of the regional CECAFA Kagame Cup 2026.

The three time CECAFA Kagame Cup winners arrived today in Kigali for few days of training.

Coach Charles Kwabian Akonnor’s team will also have the opportunity to test themselves against Rayon Sports FC in the annual Rayon Day celebrations on Saturday.

“I am very delighted that the CECAFA Kagame Cup comes at such a time because it will give the team good preparations ahead of the new season,” says coach Akonnor.

K’Ogalo as the team is known will have few days of training and acclimatize before kick starting their Group A campaign against Rwanda giants APR FC on July 24^th at the Amahoro Stadium.

The Gor Mahia FC side has been busy in the transfer market and will have the opportunity to test some of their new recruits in the regional tournament. The team also has three Ghanaian players; George Amonoo, Ebenezer Boadi Adu-Kwau and Ebenezer Assifuah, Isaac Deng Kur (South Sudan) and Ariste Patrick Ekandjoum Essombe from Cameroon.

Gor Mahia FC, the 1980, 1981 and 1985 CECAFA Kagame Cup winners will face Vipers SC (Uganda) and Garde Republicaine FC (Djibouti) in their second and third group A matches respectively.

The top team from the three groups, together with the best second placed team in all the three groups will qualify for the semi final of the competition.

The winners will bag US$30,000, the runners up US$20,000, and the third placed team US$10,000.

Sudan Premier League champions Al Hilal SC have announced a sponsorship package of US$100,000 towards the CECAFA Kagame Cup 2026.

Rwanda will host the regional tournament from July 24^th to August 7^th in Kigali.

Al Hilal SC who will also participate in the tournament announced their sponsorship during a press conference held at the Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) Accommodation Facility on Friday.

Fabrice Shema Ngoga, the FERWAFA President thanked Al Hilal for coming on board to support the CECAFA Kagame Cup. “We are hoping more partners come on board to support the tournament because we must always dream of getting bigger,” said Ngoga.

He also thanked Azam TV who are the broadcast partners of CECAFA for the continuous support.

The Al Hilal SC CEO, Yasir Hassan Ibrahim said they are happy to support CECAFA towards the regional tournament. “On behalf of the Board of Directors of Ali Hilal SC we are happy to partner and participate in the CECAFA Kagame Cup. We thank Rwanda for the good hospitality when we played in the Rwanda League last season,” added the Club CEO.

Jean Sseninde, the Interim Executive Director of CECAFA thanked the leadership of Al Hilal SC for the timely support of the competition. “It is only the beginning of good things to happen and we thank the management of the Club and the Rwanda Football leadership as well,” added Sseninde.

The CECAFA Kagame Cup 2026 will attract 12 teams with the champions walking away with US$30,000, the runner-up US$20,000 and third placed team US$10,000.

Rwanda President Paul Kagame who is also the Patron of CECAFA has contributed prize money towards the tournament since 2002.

The Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) have said they are prepared to host a very successful CECAFA Kagame Cup 2026.

Rwanda will host the regional tournament from July 24^th to August 7^th at the Amahoro Stadium and Kigali Pele Stadium.

Bonnie Mugabe, the FERWAFA General Secretary made it clear during a press conference held at the Amahoro Stadium Press Conference Hall, that they are prepared to give top class hosting capabilities to one of Africa’s biggest Club tournaments.

He made it clear that after successfully hosting the FIFA Series this year, FERWAFA are very confident that they will host one of the most successful Kagame Cup tournaments. “We are expecting many partners to come on board and support the tournament because we are looking at success,” added Mugabe.

He also explained that although some teams from Tunisia and Libya had promised to enter as guest sides, they had later withdrawn because of some challenges. “We are hoping to host the CECAFA Kagame Cup for the next three years in a row,” added Mugabe.

The CECAFA Interim Executive Director, Jean Sseninde also thanked FERWAFA for coming up to host the CECAFA Kagame Cup 2026. “We plan to have many more teams participate in the tournament next year including guest sides,” explained Sseninde.

She also made it clear that US$60,000 will be up for garbs for the top three teams. The champions will pocket US$30,000, the runners-up US$20,000, and the third placed team US$10,000.

Rwanda President and CECAFA Patron, Paul Kagame has supported the tournament with cash prizes since 2002.

Three time winners APR FC have been drawn to open their CECAFA Kagame Cup 2026 campaign against Kenya’s Gor Mahia FC on July 24^th at the Amahoro Stadium.

The official draw of the CECAFA Kagame Cup 2026 was conducted on Friday at the Amahoro Stadium Press Conference Hall.

CECAFA Head of Marketing and Communication, Andrew Jackson Oryada conducted the draw, assited by former Rwanda captain and Legend Haruna Niyonzima.

Group A will have APR FC, Vipers SC (Uganda), Gor Mahia FC (Kenya) and Djibouti’s Garde Republicaine FC. Uganda Premier League champions Vipers SC will also play their opening match on the first day July 24th against Garde Republicaine FC.

The six time champions Simba SC have been placed in Group B together with the 2025 winners Singinda Black Stars FC (Tanzania), Jamus SC (South Sudan) and Somalia’s Mogadishu City Club.

Sudan giants and last year’s runners-up Al Hilal SC have been placed in Group C alongside Rayon Sports FC (Rwanda), Tusker FC (Kenya) and KVZ SC (Zanzibar).

“I am very excited that the region will again hodl the CECAFA Kagame Cup which gives teams an opportunity to prepare well,” said Niyonzima, who also played for APR FC, Rayon Sports FC, Simba SC and Young Africans SC.

Group A: APR FC, Vipers SC, Gor Mahia FC, Garde Republicaine FC

Group B: Singida Black Simba SC, Jamus SC, Mogadishu City Club

Group C: Al Hilal SC, Rayon Sports FC, Tusker FC, KVZ SC