KAMPALA, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Uganda Premier League champion Vipers SC has confirmed its participation in the 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup, the region's premier club football tournament.
The tournament, which brings together top clubs from East and Central Africa, is scheduled to take place in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, from July 18 to Aug. 9.
Simon Peter Nsubuga, chief executive officer of Vipers SC, told Xinhua on Monday that the club had officially accepted an invitation from the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA).
"Vipers Sports Club hereby formally confirms its participation in the tournament. We thank CECAFA for the invitation and the support extended to the club, and we look forward to taking part in the competition," added Nsubuga.
Yusuf Mossi, CECAFA's competitions manager, said the tournament serves as an important preparatory platform for clubs ahead of the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup.
"We have organized this competition in the past years and it has greatly helped teams prepare well. Last year we had Sudan's Al Hilal reach the quarter-final stage of the CAF Champions League after they also finished third in the CECAFA Kagame Cup held in Tanzania," explained Mossi.
Teams expected to participate in the tournament include APR FC and Rayon Sports of Rwanda, Gor Mahia of Kenya, Young Africans SC and Simba SC of Tanzania, El Merriekh SC Bentiu of South Sudan, and Sudanese giants Al Hilal SC and El Merriekh SC.
League champions from Somalia and Ethiopia are also expected to feature, while CECAFA plans to invite a guest team from another African football zone.
Last year, Tanzania Premier League side Singida Black Stars FC emerged champion after defeating APR FC of Rwanda in the final. ■
