Rayon Sports won the CECAFA Kagame Cup after defeating Kenya’s Gor Mahia FC 2-1 in the final. On Friday, August 7, 2026, as Rwandans celebrated Umuganura Day, two matches were scheduled for the evening to conclude the 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup tournament that began on July 24, 2026.
The most anticipated match was the final between Rwanda’s Rayon Sports and Kenya’s Gor Mahia FC. Both teams were hungry for this Cup, as Rayon Sports last won in 1998, meaning it was 28 years ago, while Gor Mahia last won in 1985, meaning it was 41 years ago.
Rayon Sports scored the first goal in the 27th minute after a well-placed pass from Rayon Sports captain Nshimiyimana Emmanuel “Kabange”. Iradukunda Elia Tatou tried to shoot the ball, but it missed. Kameni Herman Junior was in a good position, and he also did not manage to clear it, but it did not prevent him from going past goalkeeper Bryne Omondi Odhiambo. In the 34th minute, Rayon Sports again shook the net after a corner kick by Iradukunda; Burundian Muderi Akbar scored the goal, but international referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan immediately ruled it out for handball.
The first half ended with Rayon Sports leading the game 1-0, with the audience cheered on by singer Chris Eazy. In the second half, Gor Mahia, coached by Charles Kwablan Akonnor, started to make a big splash, especially through the left wing played by Shariff Sabuni Sirengo Musa.
Sirengo, who had struggled for Rayon Sports, scored Gor Mahia’s equalizer in the 53rd minute after breaking through Rayon Sports’ defense. The 90 minutes of the game ended with the two teams tied at 1-1, forcing the use of 30 minutes of extra time. It was during these minutes that Rayon Sports scored their second goal, scored by Muhoza Daniel after a long ball from Nshuti Didier; Kameni Herman Junior headed it past Muhoza.
The match ended with Rayon Sports defeating Gor Mahia 2-1 to win the CECAFA Kagame Cup, where they were awarded 30 thousand United States dollars, while the second-placed Gor Mahia received 20 thousand dollars. This is not the first time Rayon Sports has won this Cup in general, but it is the first time it has won since it was sponsored by the President of the Republic of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, in 2002.
The other match that took place on Friday was between Al Hilal SC Omdurman of Sudan and Jamus SC of South Sudan, competing for 3rd place. This match started at 9:00 pm (15:00). This match ended with Al Hilal, who had lost in the final last year and finished 3rd after defeating Jamus SC 2-1, being awarded 10 thousand United States dollars.
In the individual awards, Rayon Sports captain Nshimiyimana Emmanuel “Kabange” was awarded as the best player of the tournament and as the player who performed well in behavior and conduct (Fair Play Award), Rayon Sports goalkeeper, Dande Junior was awarded as the best goalkeeper of the tournament after conceding only two goals while Ansumana Samura of Al Hilal and Djibril Outtara of APR FC won the award for the players who scored the most goals in the tournament with 3 goals.
