As the group stage of the CECAFA Kagame Cup 2026 comes to a close, attention turns not only to team qualifications but also to the individual battle for the tournament’s top scorer award.
Statistics compiled by Kenya Football Data reveal an intriguing race, with Ugandan presence strongly represented near the top of the leaderboard.
While APR FC forward Djibril Ouattara Cheick and Singida Black Stars attacker Mathew Tegisi currently lead the Golden Boot standings with three goals each, Vipers SC duo Gusto Mulongo Wa Ilunga and Farouk Miya remain right on their heels with two goals apiece.
Out of the 42 total goals registered across the 18 group matches, no player has managed to separate themselves completely, keeping the individual race wide open.
Top Scorers Standings:
- Djibril Ouattara Cheick (APR FC) – 3 goals
- Mathew Tegisi (Singida Black Stars) – 3 goals
- Gusto Mulongo Wa Ilunga (Vipers SC) – 2 goals
- Farouk Miya (Vipers SC) – 2 goals
- Antonio Atisso Kodjo Kossivi (Rayon Sport FC) – 2 goals
- Lawrent Ramazani (Jamus SC) – 2 goals
- Mario Taban Cherelino (Jamus SC) – 2 goals
- Paul Odhiambo Okoth (Gor Mahia FC) – 2 goals
- Traore Mamadou (APR FC) – 2 goals
- Henry David (Singida Black Stars) – 2 goals
Despite Vipers SC bowing out of the competition at the group stage, their frontline proved to be one of the most effective attacking units in the tournament.
Farouk Miya demonstrated his set-piece capability early on, converting a 17th-minute free kick against CF Garde Republicaine on Matchday 1. He followed that up with another critical goal to finish the group stage with two strikes.
Joining Miya on two goals was Congolese-born striker Gusto Mulongo Wa Ilunga, who netted Vipers’ equalizer in their 38th-minute thriller against APR FC on Matchday 3.
Meanwhile, midfield engine Abdu Karim Watambala also registered his name on the scoresheet during the group campaign, bringing Vipers’ individual goalscorer count to three distinct players.
In total, Vipers produced five goals across their three matches, tying with semifinalists APR FC and Singida Black Stars as the second-highest scoring team in the entire group stage behind Al-Hilal Omdurman and Gor Mahia (6 goals each)
The goalscorer data highlights a balanced distribution of goals across squads rather than reliance on single individuals. For instance, Sudanese giants Al-Hilal Omdurman saw six different players score one goal each, including Temple Taiwo Akire, Ansumana Samura, Ahmed Mbareck, Kamaradini Mamudu, Mohamed Yagub, and Salim Adams.
Similarly, Kenya’s Gor Mahia saw four distinct scorers find the net, led by Paul Odhiambo Okoth with two goals, alongside Ebenezer Assifuah, Lesley Owino, and Mike Kibwage.
With the group stage now complete and 29 different players finding the back of the net, the remaining semifinalists will rely on their key attackers to make the final push for both team glory and the coveted Golden Boot award.
NB: Data compiled by Kenya Football Data (kenyafootballdata.com).
