Ugandan champions Vipers SC have made a dramatic U-turn on their participation in the 2025 CECAFA Kagame Cup, paving the way for NEC FC to carry the country’s banner at the regional showpiece.
The Venoms, who are camped in Kigali for pre-season engagements, were conspicuously absent from the group-stage draw held at Pacific Hotel in Nairobi on Thursday. It later emerged that the club had formally communicated their withdrawal to the tournament organisers on Wednesday night. The decision comes weeks after Vipers also pulled out of the FUFA Super 8, citing preparations for the new campaign.
Their slot was swiftly handed to NEC, Uganda’s CAF Confederation Cup representatives, who now take up residence in Group B. The Kampala outfit faces a stern test against Rwanda’s record winners APR, Burundi’s Bumamuru FC and Zanzibar’s Mlandege FC.
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Yusuf Mossi, CECAFA’s Competitions Director, confirmed the changes during the draw, which placed matches across four venues; the Azam Complex, Chamazi, KMC Stadium and the Major General Isamuyo Stadium.
CECAFA boss Auka Gecheo stressed the tournament’s continental importance, talking to the press: “This competition will also help our teams in the region to prepare ahead of the 2025/2026 CAF competitions, which kick off next month.”
Elsewhere, Tanzania’s Singida Big Stars were pooled in Group A with Garde Cotes (Djibouti), Ethiopian Coffee (Ethiopia) and Kenya Police FC. Sudanese giants Al Hilal headline Group C alongside South Sudan’s Kator FC, Mogadishu City Club (Somalia) and Alahly SC Wad Madani (Sudan).
