Twelve teams will tussle it out in the regional CECAFA Dar Port Kagame Cup 2024 slated to take place July 9-21^st in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Apart from guest side Red Arrows FC, the Zambia Premier League champions, all the other teams are from within the Zone.

Tanzania Premier League side Simba Sports Club and AFC Leopards from Kenya have won the regional title a record six times a piece. Young Africans SC, the Tanzania Premier League giants and Kenya’s Tusker FC have also lifted the Cup five times each.

But in the absence of the four clubs in the Dar Port Kagame Cup 2024, APR FC (Rwanda), Gor Mahia (Kenya) and Uganda’s Sports Club Villa will be the three teams eager to win the regional Cup for a fourth time.

Although Gor Mahia FC last lifted the trophy in 1985 when they defeating arch-rivals AFC Leopards 2-0 in the final, they now have a well balanced team that has the capacity to go all the way. The team recently signed a Brazilian coach Leonardo Martins Neiva and new players Samuel Kapen, Chris Pius Akena, and Gideon Bendeka. The new coach who has lots of coaching experience in Africa made it clear that he will want his team to play attractive ‘shamba’ Football.

For APR FC who have dominated Rwanda Football for several years, will be more than hungry to prove that they have what it takes under new coach Darko Novic. After his team defeated Police 1-0 in the official opening match of the newly renovated Amahoro Stadium on July 1^st, Novic made it clear that his target is to reach far in the regional tournament. They also reached the semi-final stage of the Mapinduzi Cup in Zanzibar.  

For SC Villa who recaptured the Uganda Premier League title after 20 years, playing at the regional tournament presents a very good chance for their Serbian coach Dusan Stojanovic. The SC Villa coach has made it clear that playing at the tournament will give his team exposure and experience.

“This tournament comes at a very good time for us as we prepare for the start of the 2024/2025 CAF Champions League starting in August,” says Stojanovic.

Interestingly APR FC and SC Villa are all pooled in Group C together with Singida Black Stars (Tanzania) and El Merriekh Bentiu (South Sudan).

Al Merriekh from Sudan who have lifted the trophy three times, together with Azam FC (Tanzania) and but will miss out include Al Merriekh (Sudan) and URA FC (Uganda) have also won the Cup twice.

Yusf Mossi, the CECAFA Competitions Manager has said they expect a very competitive tournament. “This tournament comes at a good time as they teams use it to prepare for the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup. We expect to see attractive and competitive Football over the next two weeks,” added Mossi.

The top team in each of the three groups and the best runners up from any of the groups will automatically qualify for the semi-final stage.

Top winners of the CECAFA Dar Port Kagame Cup

6 time winners

Simba SC (Tanzania – 1974, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, 2002

Tusker FC (Kenya) – 1967, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1997

5 time winners

Young Africans SC (Tanzania) – 1975, 1993, 1999, 2011, 2012

Tusker FC (Kenya) – 1988, 1989, 2000, 2001, 2008

3 times winners

APR FC (Rwanda) – 2004, 2027, 2010

Al Merriekh (Sudan) – 1986, 1994, 2014

SC Villa (Uganda) – 1987, 2003, 2005

Gor Mahia (Kenya) – 1980, 1981, 1985

Groups A: Coast Union FC (Tanzania), Al Wadi FC (Sudan), JKU SC (Zanzibar), Dekedaha FC (Somalia)

Group B: Al Hilal (Sudan), Gor Mahia FC (Kenya), Red Arrows FC (Zambia), Djibouti Telecom (Djibouti)

Group C: SC Villa (Uganda), APR FC (Rwanda), Singida Black Stars (Tanzania), El Merriekh Bentiu (South Sudan)

The Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) has announced that US$60,000 prize money will be at stake at the CECAFA Dar Port Kagame Cup 2024.

Tanzania will host the regional tournament from July 9^th-21^st in Dar es Salaam.

John Auka Gecheo, the Executive Director of CECAFA has made it clear that the support from the Football loving President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame will continue. “We are glad that since 2002 His Excellency Kagame has supported the growth of Football in the CECAFA Zone by $60,000 towards prize money when the tournament takes place,” says Gecheo.

The Executive Director made it clear that the winners at the Dar Port Kagame Cup will pocket US$30,000, while the runner-up takes US$20,000 and the third placed team US$10,000. Dar es Salaam Port under the Tanzania Ports Authority and Azam TV are the other partners supporting the regional tournament.

Twelve teams will battle in this year’s tournament with Zambia Premier League Champions Red Arrows being the only guest side.

The top team in each of the three groups and the best runners up from any of the groups will automatically qualify for the semi-final stage.

Groups A: Coast Union FC (Tanzania), Al Wadi FC (Sudan), JKU SC (Zanzibar), Dekedaha FC (Somalia)

Group B: Al Hilal (Sudan), Gor Mahia FC (Kenya), Red Arrows FC (Zambia), Djibouti Telecom (Djibouti)

Group C: SC Villa (Uganda), APR FC (Rwanda), Singida Black Stars (Tanzania), El Merriekh Bentiu (South Sudan)

The draw for the CECAFA Dar Port Kagame Cup 2024 has been conducted in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Kenya Premier League champions Gor Mahia have been placed in a Group of death (B) that also has Al Hilal (Sudan), Red Arrows (Zambia) and Djibouti Telecom FC.

The season opening tournament will take place July 9^th-21^st at the Azam Complex in Chamazi and KMC Stadium in Kinondoni.

Baraka Kizuguto, the CECAFA Football Development Director who conducted the draw at the Azam studio said they expect a very competitive tournament since teams will be preparing for the CAF competitions that start in August.

Group B has Tanzanian side Coastal Union FC, Al Wadi FC (Sudan), JKU SC (Zanzibar) and Somalia’s Dekedaha FC. Group C which looks very tough on paper has two former champions SC Villa (Uganda), Apr FC (Rwanda), Singida Black Stars FC (Tanzania) and Al Merriekh Bentiu (South Sudan).

The last time the regional tournament was held in 2021 in Dar es Salaam, Uganda’s Express Fc beat Nyasa Big Bullets FC from Malawi 1-0.

Group A

Coast Union FC, Al Wadi FC, JKU SC, Dekedaha FC

Group B

Al Hilal, Gor Mahia FC, Red Arrows FC, Djibouti Telecom FC

Group C

SC Villa, APR FC, Singida Black Stars FC, El Merriekh Bentiu