Tuesday, September 7 fixtures
9:30AM: Rwanda vs Botswana, at Gahanga Main Oval
1:30PM: Kenya vs Sierra Leone, at Gahanga B Oval
For Rwanda, the ILT20 Continent Cup is less about rankings and more about discovering where they stand on the field.
As the five-team tournament gets underway in Kigali on Tuesday, Rwanda head coach Lawrence Mahatlane says his side will not be distracted by rankings. Instead, he wants to see how his players perform and respond to pressure in competitive cricket.
"For me, rankings aren't about this or that. And we don't really look at them too closely. It's what you do on that particular day that interests you,” Mahatlane said.
That approach could define Rwanda’s campaign in the third edition of the ILT20 Continent Cup, which runs from September 8 to 19 at Gahanga International Cricket Stadium.
The tournament brings together Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Botswana and Sierra Leone for regular T20 competition outside the ICC qualification pathway.
Each team will face the others twice in a double round-robin format, with the top two meeting in the September 19 final.
Uganda are the defending champions, having won the previous edition in 2024, but Rwanda’s focus is less on the title and more on preparation.
Having already secured their place in the next stage of the World Cup Africa qualification pathway, the hosts see the tournament as an opportunity to assess their progress ahead of bigger challenges.
"I hope this is a bit of a warm-up to see where we stand. I hope we can continue to do good things next year,” Mahatlane said.
The South African coach, who has been in charge since 2024, also sees the tournament as a chance to strengthen African cricket through greater competition and the exchange of ideas between players and coaches.
"If we're strong as a region, everyone improves,” he said.
Rwanda captain Didier Ndikubwimana shares that vision, viewing the tournament as part of the team’s preparations for next year’s qualifiers.
"First of all, we're using this as good preparation for next year's qualifiers,” he said.
Ndikubwimana also believes the tournament can provide players with an opportunity to attract attention beyond domestic cricket.
"African games are platforms where players can showcase their talents,” he said.
ALSO READ: Born in Pakistan, made in Rwanda—Hamza Khan’s cricket journey
Uganda embrace the pressure
For Uganda, the challenge is to defend the title while handling the pressure that comes with being champions.
Head coach James Solefack believes regular competition is key to improving African cricket.
"The more you play, the better you get,” he said.
Uganda know they will be targeted by their rivals, but Solefack insists their previous success offers no advantage once the tournament begins.
"The other teams are going to try to beat us since we're the defending champions,” he said.
"It's a new tournament,” Solefack added, stressing that Uganda will take one game at a time and focus on executing their plans.
Kenya and Botswana seek progress
Kenya approach the tournament with a blend of experience and experimentation after gaining exposure from recent ICC competitions.
Head coach Joseph Angara said the Continent Cup offers another opportunity for his players to develop.
"This isn't an ICC tournament. We're here to enjoy it,” Angara said, adding that Kenya want to play positively and learn from their performances.
Botswana captain Thatayaone Tshose is similarly focused on improvement. He said his team wants to better understand its style and correct mistakes from previous competitions.
"We learned from our mistakes during the tournament. But this week, we're catching fire more,” Tshose said.
With 20 league matches before the final, consistency will be crucial.
For Rwanda, the tournament offers a measure of their progress. Uganda must prove they can handle the pressure of being champions, while Kenya and Botswana will look to turn experience into results. Sierra Leone, meanwhile, will get the chance to test themselves against some of the region’s more established sides.