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.

Sudan’s Al Hilal SC and Rayon Sport FC have maintained a 100% winning run in Group C at the on-going CECAFA Kagame Cup.

Al Hilal who stopped Tusker FC 2-0 in their opening match, registered a 4-0 victory against Zanzibar champions KVZ FC in a match played at the Pele Kigali Stadium on Wednesday.

Skipper Abdelhman Mohamed Yousif gave Al Hilal the lead after only two minutes when he shot past KVZ FC goalkeeper Bashir Muslim Darwesh.

KVZ FC tried to play a highly defensive approach, but failed to contain the Sudan team. Ahmed M’bareck made it 2-0 for Al Hilal SC netting after 29 minutes.

Babe Diarra also had a shot for KVZ that missed by inches after 40 minutes. After recess substitutes Samura Ansumana and Akire Temple Taiwo also got their names on the score sheet.

Guy Bukasa Misakabu, the Al Hilal SC head coach said that he is impressed with the way his team attacked in numbers and managed to score four goals against a highly defensive side. “This is the pre-season and we are trying out several things,” added the Al Hilal coach.

In the second match home side Rayon Sport FC edged Tusker FC (Kenya) 1-0 with Atisso Kodjo scoring the lone goal. The group will be decided on August 1^st when Rayon Sport FC face table leaders Al Hilal SC.

On Thursday two Group A matches will be played. Table leaders Vipers SC (Uganda) will face APR FC (Rwanda), while Gor Mahia FC (Kenya) take on Garde Republicaine FC.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has requested to host the CECAFA Challenge Cup 2027.

Paulous Weldehaimanot Andermariam, President of the President of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) has reveled that they are in talks with Kenya about the Challenge Cup.

“Kenya has already requested us to host the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup which they also want to use to launch one of their new Stadiums,” says Andermariam.

He made it clear that they are working hard to ensure that the Senior Challenge Cup returns because it is the biggest tournament in the Zone for national teams. “We need to return back the Senior Challenge Cup and also find sponsors,” added the CECAFA President.

Andermariam explained that it has been difficult to organize the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup in the past years because of congested local and International calendars.

The last CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup was held in Uganda where the hosts defeated Eritrea in the final.

The CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup is Africa’s oldest regional football tournament, organized by CECAFA for national teams in East and Central Africa. It evolved from the Gossage Cup (1926) and Challenge Cup (1967) before becoming the modern CECAFA Kagame Cup Cup in 2002.

The 2025 winners Singida Black Stars FC have picked their first win at the on-going CECAFA Kagame Cup 2026.

After losing their opening Group B match 2-0 to Jamus SC (South Sudan), the Tanzanian side defeated Mogadishu City Club 4-1 in a match played on Tuesday at the Kigali Pele Stadium.

Naby Bangoura gave the Somali Premier League side the lead after 10 minutes when he beat Singida Black Stars FC goalkeeper Yona Amosi.

But Henry David leveled matters for Singida Black Stars after only three minutes. The Tanzania side continued to attack in numbers and soon made it 2-1 after 16 minutes with Mathew Tegisi scoring from close range.

Mogadishu City Club pushed forward in such of more goals, but failed to break the Singida Black Stars defending line. Henry David netted his second goal of the day after 44 minutes to increase Singida Black Stars’ lead to 3-1.

In the second half Mathew Tegisi also scored his second goal after 53 minutes to increase Singida Black Stars lead.

Ahmed Pipino, the Singida Black Stars captain said they are happy to pick a win ahead of their next group match against Simba SC.

In the second match Simba SC were held to a goalless draw by Jamus SC. The draw means the South Sudan side remain top of Group B with 4 points.

The two deciding matches of Group B will be played on July 31^st with Singida Black Stars facing Simba SC in an all Tanzanian affair, while Jamus SC battles Mogadishu City Club.