After a seven-year absence from Rwanda, CECAFA Kagame Cup returns to the country, with the 2026 edition set to kick off on Friday, July 24, and run until August 4. Rwanda will be represented by two clubs including league champions APR FC and runners-up Rayon Sports. Established in 1974 by the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA), the tournament was rebranded as CECAFA Kagame Cup in 2002 after President Paul Kagame became its sponsor. The competition has since served as both a symbol of regional unity and an important source of financial support for football in East and Central Africa. ALSO READ: Al Hilal injects $300,000 into CECAFA Kagame Cup for next three years Holders Singida Big Stars will be seeking to retain the trophy, while Rwanda's representatives hope to capitalise on home advantage and end the country's long wait for another title. Times Sport breaks down everything you need to know ahead of the tournament. The tournament format The 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup features 12 teams divided into three groups of four. The three group winners, together with the best-performing runner-up, will advance to the semi-finals. The tournament will then enter the knockout stage, with the semi-final winners meeting in the final to determine the regional champion. Groups Group A: APR FC (Rwanda), Vipers SC (Uganda), Gor Mahia (Kenya) and FC Garde Republicaine (Djibouti). Group B: Singida Big Stars (Tanzania), Simba SC (Tanzania), Jamus (South Sudan) and Mogadishu City (Somalia). Group C: Al Hilal SC (Sudan), Rayon Sports (Rwanda), Tusker FC (Kenya) and KVZ SC (Zanzibar). ALSO READ: Simba SC to take part in CECAFA Kagame Cup Rwanda's record in the competition Rwandan clubs have enjoyed a strong history in the CECAFA Kagame Cup, winning the regional competition five times. Rayon Sports became the first Rwandan club to lift the trophy in 1998 after defeating Zanzibar's Mlandege 2-1 in the final. APR FC is Rwanda's most successful club in the competition, having won the title three times—in 2004, 2007 and 2010. ALSO READ: Taleb targets CECAFA Kagame Cup glory after signing new APR FC deal The third Rwandan club to win the competition was ATRACO FC, which claimed the title in 2009 after defeating Sudanese giants Al-Merrikh 1-0 in the final. The most recent strong performance by a Rwandan side came in 2024, when APR FC finished as runners-up after losing to Zambia's Red Arrows in the final. Half-time entertainment Fans attending the tournament will also be treated to entertainment during half-time, with Rwandan artists and DJs expected to perform throughout the competition. According to Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) Competitions Commissioner Desire Niyitanga, entertainment activities will begin early each matchday to keep fans engaged between games. Each day will be hosting two games, but early at 12pm venues will be open to welcome fans. This means that they can't stay unentertained. We will be having artists to pull up a show as time goes on, Niyitanga said. Prize money The winners of CECAFA Kagame Cup will receive USD 30,000 (approximately Rwf40 million), while the runners-up will pocket USD 20,000 (roughly Rwf29 million). The third-placed team will receive USD 10,000, equivalent to approximately Rwf14 million. In addition to President Kagame's role as the tournament's patron and sponsor, Sudanese giants Al Hilal Omdurman have injected USD 30,000 into CECAFA Kagame Cup through a landmark three-year sponsorship agreement aimed at strengthening the competition's financial stability and profile. The sponsorship marks the first time a participating club has directly sponsored the regional tournament. How to follow CECAFA Kagame Cup Fans unable to attend matches at Amahoro Stadium and Kigali Pele Stadium, the two venues hosting the tournament, will have several options to follow the action. The matches will be broadcast on Azam TV, while the Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA) is also expected to stream some games live, according to Niyitanga.
