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2026 Cecafa Cup: Gor Mahia and Tusker fight to end Kenya’s 18-year title wait
Gor Mahia’s Chris Akena in action during their Cecafa Kagame Cup Group “B” match against Djibouti Telecom at the Azam Complex in Dar es Salaam on July 16, 2024. The last time a Kenyan team won the tournament was in 2008.
Gor Mahia and Tusker FC are out to end 18-year wait by Kenyan clubs for success in the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (Cecafa) Club Championship which starts today in Kigali.
The 47th edition of men’s football tournament, which features top clubs from East and Central Africa will run from July 24 to August 7, and will be held at the 45,500-seater Amahoro Stadium, and the 7,000-seater Kigali Pele Stadium which is a multi-purpose facility nicknamed ‘Nyamirambo Regional Stadium.’
Since 2002, the tournament has been known as Cecafa Kagame Cup, thanks to its sponsorship by Rwandese President Paul Kagame.
Twelve clubs will compete in this year’s edition of the tournament. Winners will take home the top prize of $30,000 (equivalent to Sh3.8 million by today’s exchange rate). The teams that finish second and third will receive $20,000 (Sh2.5 million) and $10,000 (Sh1.2 million) respectively.
The top team from each of the three groups will progress to the semi-finals, together with the best-ranked team that finishes second at the group stage.
The last time a Kenyan club triumphed in the tournament was in 2008 when Tusker defeated Uganda Revenue Authority FC 2-1 in the final held in Dar es Salaam. Since then, Kenyan clubs have endured an 18-year title drought.
Drawn in Group “A”, three-time champions Gor will open their campaign against home team Armée Patriotique Rwandaise Football Club (APR FC) at Amahoro Stadium from 8pm (Kenyan time). APR FC also boast three Cecafa Club Championship titles. Vipers Sports Club from Uganda, and Garde Republicaine from Djibouti are the other teams in Pool ‘A’.
Tusker are in Group “C’ alongside Sudan’s Al Hilal SC, Rayon Sports FC from Rwanda, and Kikosi Cha Valantia Zanzibar. The brewers, who boast a total of five titles in the competition, will open their campaign on Sunday against Al Hilal at Amahoro Stadium from 4pm.
With their most recent victory coming in 1985 when they defeated their arch-rivals AFC Leopards 2-0 in the final held in Sudan to win the trophy, Gor’s wait for the title has stretched to 41 years, and it is not lost in coach Charles Akonnor.
“We have not won this trophy for a long time, so our goal is to win it this time. These matches will also provide a platform for us to play against experienced teams which have played in the CAF Championships,” Akonnor pointed out on Thursday.
Gor Mahia head to today’s match against the Rwandese champions on the back of a 2-0 loss in a friendly match to Rayon Sports on Saturday.
Like most clubs in the tournament, Gor are using the matches to prepare for next season’s CAF interclub competitions. Gor will represent Kenya in the 2026/2027 CAF Champions League.
In addition to using the tournament to prepare for their CAF Confederation Cup matches, Tusker’s coach, Frenchman Julien Mette, said their primary target is to go beyond the group stage, then plan from there.
“The expectation is to go out of the group and to reach the semi-finals, which will be very good. Because we started our pre-season programme late, we have to be realistic and go game by game. If we lose, there will no drama but we just have to represent Tusker and Kenya with good football and a good image in terms of fair play and attitude. That’s the main target,” said Mette.
Fixtures (all in Kenyan time)
Playing on Friday (At Amahoro Stadium):
- Vipers SC v Garde Republicaine - 4pm
- APR FC v Gor Mahia - 8pm
Playing on Saturday (At Kigali Pele Stadium)
- Simba SC v Mogadishu Club - 7pm
- Singida Black Stars FC v Jamus SC - 4pm
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