Sudanese giants Al-Hilal Omdurman kicked off their CECAFA Kagame Cup 2026 campaign on a high note, defeating Kenya’s Tusker FC 2-0 at the Amahoro Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Goals on either side of the halftime whistle sealed all three points for the Sudanese powerhouse.
Kamaradini Mamudu opened the scoring in the 30th minute to give Al-Hilal a 1-0 lead heading into the break, before Salim Adams put the game beyond reach with a late strike in the 94th minute of stoppage time.
Coaches React:
Despite the defeat, Tusker FC head coach Julien Mette urged patience, remaining positive about his team’s effort while citing significant squad turnover and a limited preparation window as key factors in the outcome.
“We tried to push in the second half to get an equaliser, but all of a sudden options didn’t turn up as expected,” Mette noted after the match. “We have had 12 days of training and 12 new faces, hence not having ample time to have things moving well.”
On the opposite bench, Al-Hilal Omdurman manager Florent Ibenge praised his squad’s composure and lauded their performance in what served as their official pre-season opener.
“I am very happy for this win—first game of the pre-season,” said Ibenge. “Many players are new, but my boys did well. I congratulate the players.”
Matchday 1 Round-Up
The tournament opener saw a flurry of action across Groups A, B, and C over the weekend:
Friday, July 24:
Vipers SC (UGA) 3–0 CF Garde Républicaine/SIAF (DJI)
APR FC (RWA) 0–5 Gor Mahia FC (KEN)
Saturday, July 25:
Singida Black Stars (TAN) 0–2 Jamus SC (SSD)
Simba SC (TAN) 0–0 Mogadishu City Club (SOM)
Sunday, July 26:
Al-Hilal SC (SUD) 2–0 Tusker FC (KEN)
Fixture :
Rayon Sports (RWA) vs facing KVZ FC (ZNZ), KO: 8pm EAT
