Simba SC headline 11 Clubs for 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup in Kigali

The Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) has officially confirmed 11 of the 12 clubs that will compete in the 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup, with Tanzanian giants Simba SC making their long-awaited return to the region's premier club competition after an eight-year absence.

The tournament will be staged in Rwanda from July 24 to August 8, 2026, with matches taking place at Amahoro Stadium and Kigali Pelé Stadium, bringing together some of East and Central Africa’s strongest clubs in preparation for the upcoming continental season.

CECAFA Interim Executive Director Jean Sseninde said the competition will serve as an important platform for clubs preparing for the 2026/27 CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup, both of which begin in September.

The clubs already confirmed are APR FC and Rayon Sports of Rwanda, Simba SC of Tanzania, Vipers SC of Uganda, Al Hilal SC and Al Merrikh SC of Sudan, Gor Mahia FC of Kenya, Mogadishu City FC of Somalia, Jamus SC of South Sudan, FC Garde Républicaine of Djibouti and KVZ FC of Zanzibar.

CECAFA said the identity of the 12th and final participant will be announced on July 6, completing the lineup for one of the region's most prestigious club tournaments.

The return of Simba SC is expected to generate significant excitement among supporters.

The Dar es Salaam-based club is one of the competition’s most successful teams, having won the Kagame Cup six times.

Their last appearance came in 2018, and they now return aiming to reclaim regional supremacy.

Established in 1974, the CECAFA Kagame Cup is the oldest regional club football competition in East and Central Africa.

Originally known as the CECAFA Club Championship, the tournament has brought together champion clubs from CECAFA’s member associations for more than five decades.

Since 2002, it has been sponsored by the Government of Rwanda under the Kagame Cup name, reflecting President Paul Kagame’s continued support for regional football development.

The tournament has played a significant role in raising the standard of club football across the region, providing valuable international experience for emerging players and coaches while strengthening sporting ties among CECAFA member nations.

Over the years, several clubs have established themselves as regional powerhouses.

APR FC are among Rwanda’s most successful representatives, while Simba SC, Young Africans (Yanga SC), Gor Mahia FC, Al Hilal SC, Al Merrikh SC, Tusker FC, and SC Villa have all enjoyed memorable campaigns and lifted the trophy on multiple occasions.

The 2025 CECAFA Kagame Cup was won by Singida Black Stars FC, who claimed their first-ever regional title.

In the final, the Tanzanian side defeated Al Hilal SC 2–1 at the KMC Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Midfielder Clatous Chama scored both goals for Singida Black Stars to secure the historic victory.

With another highly competitive field assembling in Kigali, the 2026 Kagame Cup promises two weeks of high-quality football as clubs fine-tune their squads ahead of continental competition.

For hosts APR FC and Rayon Sports, the tournament offers an opportunity to impress home supporters, while Simba SC’s return adds another compelling storyline to a championship that has become a cornerstone of football in East and Central Africa.

Joseph Morris Vincent