Vipers SC‘s journey at the 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup has come to an end after results elsewhere failed to swing in their favour, confirming the Ugandan champions’ elimination from the regional tournament in Kigali, Rwanda.
Having suffered a 2-1 defeat to APR FC in their final Group A fixture on Thursday, the Venoms were left relying on a favourable outcome in the last Group B match to keep their hopes alive. Denis Lavagne‘s side needed Rayon Sport to defeat Sudanese giants Al Hilal by at least four goals to sneak into the semi-finals as the competition’s best second-placed team.
That scenario never materialised.
Instead, Rayon Sport secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Al Hilal on Saturday, with Atisso Kodio finding the breakthrough in the 17th minute. The result was enough to hand the Rwandan outfit maximum points from the group stage and seal top spot with nine points.
Full time at Amahoro Stadium. #CECAFAKagameCup2026 || pic.twitter.com/sF8zHM9oe1
— 𝐕𝐢𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐛 (@VipersSC) July 30, 2026
While Rayon Sport advanced as Group B winners, Al Hilal progressed despite the defeat, booking a place in the last four alongside Gor Mahia and Jamus SC.
The outcome officially ends Vipers’ campaign, with the Ugandan representatives set to return home after falling short of the knockout rounds.
Attention now turns to the semi-finals, where CAF Confederation Cup representatives Rayon Sport will face South Sudan’s Jamus SC, while Kenyan heavyweights Gor Mahia lock horns with Sudan’s Al Hilal for a place in the final.
