After 10 days of intense competition featuring 42 goals in the group stage, shock results and the emergence of new stars, the 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup has now reached its decisive stage, with only four teams remaining in the race for the title.
Rwanda’s Rayon Sports, Kenya’s Gor Mahia, South Sudan’s Jamus SC and Sudan’s Al Hilal have all secured places in the semi-finals, scheduled for August 4, 2026 in matches expected to captivate football fans across East and Central Africa.
Hosts Rayon Sports were the standout performers in the group stage.
The Rwandan giants finished top of Group C with a perfect nine points after victories over Zanzibar’s KVZ (2-0), Kenya’s Tusker FC (1-0), and Sudan’s Al Hilal (1-0).
An early strike from Atisso Kodjo against Al Hilal sealed Rayon Sports’ third consecutive victory, making them the only team to complete the group stage with a 100 per cent winning record.
Their impressive campaign has earned them a semi-final meeting with South Sudan’s Jamus SC, a fixture few would have predicted before the tournament began.
Jamus have become one of the stories of this year’s Kagame Cup after emerging from the highly competitive Group B, which also featured Tanzanian giants Simba SC and defending champions Singida Black Stars.
The South Sudanese side arrived at the tournament as outsiders but stunned many observers by progressing to the last four.
Among the results that established Jamus as genuine contenders was their victory over Singida Black Stars, proving they were not simply making up the numbers but were capable of competing with any side in the tournament.
Rayon Sports head coach Christian Francis Haringingo expressed satisfaction with his team’s group-stage performance but insisted the real challenge starts now.
“This tournament is part of our preparations for the new season. We have won all three group matches, and now we are ready to face any opponent in the semi-finals,” said Haringingo.
While Rayon Sports enjoyed a flawless campaign, Al Hilal also booked their place in the semi-finals despite losing their final group match to the hosts.
The Sudanese giants progressed as the best second-placed team after collecting six points and finishing with a superior goal difference to the other runners-up.
Their reward is a mouth-watering semi-final against Kenya’s Gor Mahia, a clash expected to produce fierce competition given both clubs’ extensive experience in continental football.
Gor Mahia head into the semi-finals after topping Group A and will be eager to restore their dominance in the Kagame Cup, while Al Hilal are determined to prove their qualification was the result of quality rather than fortune.
Several clubs also used the tournament as part of their preparations for the new domestic season.
Among them was Kenya’s Tusker FC, who concluded their campaign with a 2-0 victory over KVZ thanks to goals from Ian Simiyu and Victor Mbaoma.
However, the win was not enough to secure qualification, and Tusker have now turned their attention to a friendly match against Simba SC on August 8, 2026 in Dar es Salaam during the annual Simba Day celebrations.
For KVZ of Zanzibar, the tournament proved to be a harsh learning experience.
The side finished without a single point, lost all three matches, failed to score and conceded eight goals, resulting in an early exit.
As the tournament approaches its conclusion, attention now turns to the semi-finals, where the remaining four teams will battle for places in the final.
For Rayon Sports, it is an opportunity to lift the trophy in front of their home supporters.
Jamus SC will be hoping to continue their remarkable underdog story.
Gor Mahia are aiming to restore Kenyan football’s pride, while Al Hilal seek to reaffirm their status as one of the region’s biggest clubs.
