Gor Mahia will once again fly Kenya’s flag at the 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup after the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) officially confirmed the list of participating clubs for this year’s regional championship.
According to a CECAFA press release issued on Friday, July 3, 2026, K’Ogalo are among 11 clubs confirmed for the tournament, which will be staged in Rwanda from July 24 to August 8 at the Amahoro National Stadium and Kigali Pele Stadium. A 12th team is expected to be announced on July 6.
The tournament presents Gor Mahia with an important opportunity to sharpen their squad ahead of the 2026/27 CAF inter-club competitions, which begin in September.
Strong Regional Line-up
Gor Mahia will face some of East and Central Africa’s biggest clubs, including six-time Kagame Cup champions Simba SC of Tanzania, who return to the competition for the first time since 2018.
The clubs confirmed so far are:
- APR FC (Rwanda)
- Rayon Sports (Rwanda)
- Simba SC (Tanzania)
- Vipers SC (Uganda)
- Al Hilal SC (Sudan)
- El Merriekh SC (Sudan)
- Gor Mahia FC (Kenya)
- Mogadishu City FC (Somalia)
- Jamus SC (South Sudan)
- FC Garde Républicaine (Djibouti)
- KVZ FC (Zanzibar)
A final participant will complete the 12-team tournament on July 6. (CECAFA Online)
Perfect CAF Preparation
CECAFA Interim Executive Director Jean Sseninde said the competition will serve as a valuable preparation platform for clubs heading into continental football.
“We are excited that this tournament will give our teams a platform to prepare ahead of the CAF competitions kicking off in September 2026.”
For Gor Mahia, the Kagame Cup offers head coach and the technical bench an opportunity to test new signings, build chemistry and assess the squad against high-level regional opposition before the CAF campaign begins.
Chance to Add to Rich History
Gor Mahia are one of the most successful clubs in the competition’s history, having won the CECAFA Kagame Cup three times (1980, 1981 and 1985). The Kenyan giants will be aiming to reclaim regional supremacy after several years without lifting the prestigious trophy.
The return of Simba SC, alongside traditional powerhouses APR, Rayon Sports, Vipers, Al Hilal and Gor Mahia, is expected to make the 2026 edition one of the strongest Kagame Cups in recent years.
