Host side Rayon Sports FC and Sudanese powerhouse Al Hilal SC kicked off their 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup Group C campaigns on a high note on Sunday, securing identical 2-0 victories at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali.
Hosts Rayon Sports was made to sweat early on by Zanzibar Premier League champions KVZ FC, who held firm for most of the opening hour. However, the deadlock was finally broken in the 68th minute when the home side earned a penalty following a foul inside the box.
Substitute Junior Herman Kameni stepped up, coolly sending KVZ custodian Hamad Ubwa Hamad the wrong way to put the Rwandans ahead.
Rayon kept the foot on the gas and doubled their advantage 10 minutes later courtesy of a calm finish from substitute Daniel Muhoza in the 78th minute, ensuring all three points for the hosts.
In the earlier Group C fixture, Sudanese giants Al Hilal SC delivered a disciplined performance to sink Kenyan side Tusker FC 2-0.
Defender Kamaradini Mamudu gave Al Hilal the lead after 29 minutes when his long-range strike took a wicked deflection to wrong-foot Tusker keeper Brandon Obiero. The Brewers fought back behind captain Abud Omar, whose curling set-pieces posed serious threats, but Al Hilal’s shot-stopper Soufiane Farid Ouedraogo remained equal to the task.
With Tusker throwing numbers forward deep into second-half stoppage time, substitute Salim Adams caught the Kenyan defense on the counter-attack, clinical in the 95th minute to wrap up the points.
The championship continues later today with Vipers SC taking on Kenyan champions Gor Mahia while Garde Republicaine of Burundi face APR FC.
