Rayon Sports captain Emmanuel Kabange Nshimiyimana has been named Best Player of the 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup after leading the Blues to regional glory. Rayon Sports were crowned champions after defeating Kenyan side Gor Mahia 2-1 in a thrilling final at Amahoro Stadium on Friday, ending a 28-year wait for the regional title. Their previous triumph came in 1998. Nshimiyimana received the prestigious individual award during the tournament’s closing ceremony in front of a packed crowd at the 45,000-seater stadium. “This is the best moment for me and my team. I want to thank my teammates, coaches, committee members and fans who have been behind us from day one,” Nshimiyimana said. The towering defender was a commanding presence throughout the competition, providing leadership and defensive discipline as Rayon Sports completed an unbeaten campaign. Under his captaincy, the Rwandan club won all five of their matches and conceded just two goals, finishing with the tournament’s best defensive record. Nshimiyimana’s influence extended beyond his leadership. Operating primarily as a fullback, he was one of the competition’s most consistent performers, combining defensive solidity with an ability to support attacks. Despite receiving the tournament’s top individual accolade, the skipper insisted that team success remains the ultimate achievement. “Winning an individual award is good, but winning the tournament trophy is even better. That is something that stays with you forever as a player. This is good history for us and for everybody connected to Rayon Sports,” he added. Rayon Sports also collected the Fair Play Award after an impressive all-round campaign. In other individual honours, Rayon Sports goalkeeper Junior Dande was named Best Goalkeeper, while Al Hilal SC’s Ansumana Samura and APR FC’s Djibril Ouattara shared the Top Scorer Award. As champions, Rayon Sports received US$30,000 in prize money. Runners-up Gor Mahia earned US$20,000, while third-placed Al Hilal collected US$10,000.
