APR FC 2-1 Vipers SC
Group A Standings
1 Gor Mahia (Kenya)
2 Vipers SC (Uganda)
3 APR FC (Rwanda)
4 Garde Républicaine (Djibouti)
Standings subject to official CECAFA confirmation.
Kigali, Rwanda: Vipers SC booked their place in the quarterfinals of the 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup despite suffering a 2-1 defeat to hosts APR FC in their final Group A match at Amahoro Stadium on Thursday.
The Ugandan champions were punished for costly defensive mistakes and finished the match with 10 men after defender Bady Kevin was sent off, but the result was still enough to see them progress as Group A runners-up.
APR made an aggressive start and almost took an early lead before Vipers responded through Allan Torach, whose effort was deflected behind for a corner in the 10th minute.
Five minutes later, Bady Kevin produced an excellent last-ditch tackle to deny Outtara Djbril after the APR forward broke through on goal.
The breakthrough came in the 19th minute when APR’s Mamadou Traore capitalised on a misplaced pass from Vipers goalkeeper Denis Kigundu to slot home the opener.
The goal shifted momentum firmly in favour of the Rwandan champions, who dominated possession and nearly doubled their advantage before halftime. Dao Memel missed a good opportunity after meeting Gilbert Byiringiro’s inviting cross, firing over the crossbar.
Vipers gradually found their rhythm and restored parity in the 38th minute when Congolese striker Gusto Mulongo drilled a low shot past the goalkeeper after being played through by Joel Sserunjogi.
Mulongo nearly grabbed his second before the break, but his effort sailed narrowly over the crossbar.
Coach Denis Lavagne made attacking changes at the restart, introducing Nicholas Mwere and Ashraf Mandela in place of Patrick Mbowa and Derrick Ndahiro as Vipers searched for a winning goal.
Instead, APR regained the lead shortly after the hour mark when captain Outtara Djbril rose highest to head home at the near post after the Vipers defence failed to clear the danger.
The Ugandan side’s hopes of rescuing a point suffered a major blow in the 80th minute when Bady Kevin received his second yellow card and was sent off.
Reduced to 10 men, Vipers struggled to mount a late comeback as APR comfortably saw out the victory.
Despite the defeat, Vipers advanced to the knockout stage after finishing second in Group A.
Kenya’s Gor Mahia topped the group after edging Djibouti’s Garde Républicaine 1-0 in the other fixture.
Vipers had already secured qualification with victories over Garde Républicaine and Gor Mahia, including a dramatic stoppage-time winner against the Kenyan giants that guaranteed their passage to the knockout rounds before the final group match.
The Ugandan champions will now shift their focus to the quarterfinals as they continue their quest for a first CECAFA Kagame Cup title since 2022.
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