Kenyan champions Gor Mahia have officially punched their ticket to the 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup semifinals following a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Djibouti’s Garde Republicaine at the Kigali Pelé Stadium.
In an explosive conclusion to Group A, K’Ogalo finished tied on 6 points alongside Ugandan champions Vipers SC and Rwanda’s APR FC.
However, it was Charles Akonnor’s men who emerged atop the group matrix thanks to their superior overall goal difference—largely fueled by their blistering 5–0 opening-day thrashing of APR FC.
Gor Mahia wasted no time asserting themselves on Thursday night. Just four minutes into the contest, Patrick Essombe whipped in a venomous cross from the right wing.
Garde Republicaine stopper Liban Mohamed failed to deal with the delivery, leaving debutant striker Paul Okoth with the simplest of tap-ins to put K’Ogalo ahead early.
Despite going down to 10 men later in the encounter, Gor Mahia held firm under intense pressure to secure the all-important clean sheet and maximum points.
Meanwhile over at Amahoro Stadium, APR FC threw a massive wrench into the calculations by edging Vipers SC 2–1 in their final fixture, locking all three heavyweights on 6 points apiece.
Final Group A standings:
1. Gor Mahia 3,+5, 6 points, (Qualified (Group Winners)
2. Vipers SC +3, 6 points (In contention (Best Runners-Up)
3.
3. APR FC -2 , 6 points (Eliminated )
4 Garde Republicaine -6, 0 points, (Eliminated)
Eyes on the Prize
Speaking after the high-stakes match, Coach Akonnor praised his side’s grit following their mid-week stumble against Vipers SC:
“We knew we had to respond with character. The boys took their chances early and defended with their hearts when down to ten. We are in the last four, and now the real tournament begins.”
Gor Mahia now await the winners of Group C in what promises to be a blockbuster semifinal showdown in Kigali.
