Gor Mahia, Tusker handed tough Kagame Cup draws as Joe Waithira faces Singida Black Stars

Kenyan clubs Gor Mahia and Tusker FC have been handed difficult group-stage assignments for the 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup following Thursday's draw in Kigali, Rwanda, setting up heavyweight clashes in the region's premier club competition.

FKF Premier League champions Gor Mahia were drawn in a formidable Group A alongside hosts and Rwandan giants APR FC, Ugandan champions Vipers SC and Djibouti's Garde Républicaine. The draw pits three of East Africa's traditional powerhouses against each other, with only the group winner guaranteed a place in the semi-finals.

Tusker FC also face a stern examination after landing in Group C with Sudan's Al Hilal SC, Rwandan heavyweights Rayon Sports and Zanzibar champions KVZ FC. The Brewers will need to navigate one of the tournament's strongest pools if they are to challenge for the regional crown.

Kenyan interest extends beyond the two domestic representatives, with striker Joe Waithira set to feature for South Sudan's Jamus SC. Waithira and his side were placed in Group B alongside defending champions Singida Black Stars of Tanzania, Simba SC and Somalia's Mogadishu City Club.

The group presents Jamus with arguably the toughest path, with Tanzanian giants Simba and reigning champions Singida both expected to be among the favourites for the title.

The tournament, scheduled for July 24 to August 7 in Kigali, will feature 12 clubs divided into three groups of four. According to CECAFA Competitions Manager Yusuf Mossi, only the three group winners and the best second-placed team will progress to the semi-finals, increasing the importance of every group-stage fixture.

The competition is expected to provide valuable preparation for clubs ahead of the 2026/27 CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup campaigns, which begin in September.

Singida Black Stars return to defend the title they won last year after defeating Sudan's Al Hilal in the final in Dar es Salaam, while APR FC finished third in that edition.

For Gor Mahia, the tournament offers another opportunity to reassert themselves as one of East Africa's leading clubs after reclaiming the FKF Premier League title, while Tusker will be aiming to translate their domestic consistency into regional success.

Waithira, meanwhile, will be hoping to inspire Jamus SC against some of the region's biggest clubs as the South Sudanese side seeks to make a statement on the continental stage.