Kenyan representatives Tusker FC will kick off their 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup campaign this afternoon with a tough Group C clash against Sudanese giants Al Hilal SC at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda.
The Brewers enter the regional championship as one of two Kenyan clubs in the tournament, alongside FKF Premier League champions Gor Mahia. The competition offers an important opportunity to sharpen preparations for the 2026/27 season.
For head coach Julien Mette, the Kagame Cup is about more than chasing silverware. He views it as a chance to build cohesion within a revamped squad, improve match fitness and prepare for Tusker's upcoming CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round fixture.
Speaking ahead of the match, Mette admitted his team is still a work in progress but stressed that the priority is to stay true to the club's playing philosophy.
"Feeling happy, a great pleasure to be here. Wonderful facilities, wonderful pitch, so I feel excited. I want to see what will happen tomorrow. Either we win, or we lose, but the main thing is to respect the principle because we have, let's say, six weeks to be ready for the big game in the preliminary round of the CAF Confederation Cup."
The French tactician acknowledged that mistakes are inevitable with several new players in the squad, but believes the tournament will fast-track the team's progress.
"We will make mistakes, of course. We have to be open-minded, not to be hard on ourselves. We have a lot of new players, so I'm expecting the guys to respect the principles we have trained."
Tusker could hardly have faced a more demanding opening fixture. Al Hilal are among Africa's most successful clubs and reached the quarter-finals of last season's CAF Champions League, making them one of the favourites to win the regional title.
Tusker FC players during training. (Photo: Facebook/Tusker FC)
Despite the challenge, Mette believes the match presents an ideal opportunity for his players to test themselves against one of the continent's elite teams.
"For Tusker FC, it's a big step because Al Hilal is a historical club in Africa. It's a giant in Africa, which Tusker is not. But we hope, Inshallah, to become a top club in Africa, maybe in five years or ten years. So we have to face the best if we want to become one of the best."
Assistant captain Tom Teka also expressed confidence in the team's readiness despite the significant changes made to the squad during the transfer window.
"As a team, we have prepared well. Most of us it's our first CECAFA tournament, so we are ready. The team is new, but the players are not new to the game. Most of them we have known each other, and the new signings came ready. Here it's just about finding the chemistry."
Teka said Tusker have travelled to Kigali with the ambition of lifting the trophy, not simply gaining experience.
"Our expectations are not about participating; it's about winning. We want to win every match. Our opponents are big, but in football, it's not about who is big; it's about who plays better. We will try to win our first match because it's crucial."
After today's encounter, Tusker will face the Rwandan side Rayon Sports on July 29 before wrapping up their Group C campaign against Zanzibar's KVZ SC on August 1.
With only the group winners guaranteed a place in the semi-finals, a positive result against Al Hilal would give the Brewers a valuable early advantage as they chase a place in the knockout stages while building momentum for both their domestic and continental campaigns.
Comments
Sign in with Google to comment, reply, and like comments.
Continue with Google