CECAFA Kagame Cup 2026
Vipers 3 Garde Républicaine 0
Kigali, Rwanda: Returning striker Farouk Miya scored twice on his competitive comeback as Uganda Premier League champions Vipers SC opened their 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup campaign with an impressive 3-0 victory over Djibouti’s FC Garde Républicaine on Wednesday in Kigali.
The Uganda Cranes forward wasted little time announcing his return, curling home a superb free-kick in the 15th minute to hand the Venoms an early advantage in his first competitive appearance since rejoining the Kitende-based club.
Miya nearly doubled his tally midway through the opening half, but his powerful strike in the 34th minute drifted narrowly wide.
Vipers were briefly unsettled moments later when goalkeeper Loyce Mbaba rushed off his line, presenting FC Garde Républicaine with a rare opportunity. However, the Djiboutian side failed to capitalize on the defensive lapse.
Miya eventually grabbed his second goal in the 38th minute after reacting quickest to a loose ball inside the penalty area, calmly slotting home as the opposition failed to clear their lines.
Midfielder Karim Watambala extended Vipers’ lead just before halftime, finishing off a perfectly weighted pass from Odili Chukwuma to send the Ugandan champions into the break with a commanding three-goal advantage.
With the result virtually secured, head coach Denis Lavagne rotated his squad before the hour mark, introducing Yunus Sentamu, Milton Karisa and Glodi Beyuku in place of Chukwuma, Usama Arafat and Gusto Mulongo.
Further changes followed in the 70th minute as Patrick Mbowa, Derrick Ndahiro and Marvin Youngman replaced Watambala, Nicholas Mwere and Asraf Mandela.
Despite increasing their attacking efforts in the closing stages, FC Garde Républicaine struggled to break down Vipers’ disciplined defence, with the Ugandan side comfortably seeing out the victory to claim all three points.
The result gives Vipers a strong start in Group A, which also features Rwandan giants APR FC, Kenyan champions Gor Mahia FC, and FC Garde Républicaine.
Under the tournament format, the three group winners and the best-performing runner-up will advance to the semi-finals.
The winners of the 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup will receive USD 30,000, while the runners-up will earn USD 20,000. The third-placed team will take home USD 10,000.
This year’s tournament is being hosted in Rwanda, with matches taking place at Amahoro Stadium and Kigali Pele Stadium.
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