The Kagame Cup, officially the CECAFA Club Championship, is the regional club tournament of East and Central Africa. It gives champions from the CECAFA zone a chance to test themselves against their neighbours.
What it is
The competition brings together club champions and invited teams from CECAFA member countries such as Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Djibouti, Somalia, Eritrea and Zanzibar. It has been played since the 1970s and carries the name of Rwandan president Paul Kagame, whose sponsorship revived it in the early 2000s.
Format
The tournament usually takes place over about two weeks in a single host country. Teams are drawn into groups, with the best sides advancing to knock-out rounds. Invited clubs from outside the region, such as TP Mazembe of DR Congo, have sometimes taken part, adding extra quality.
Successful clubs
Tanzanian giants Simba and Young Africans, Kenya's Gor Mahia and Rwanda's APR and Rayon Sports are among the clubs with the strongest records in the competition. Ugandan and Sudanese clubs have also lifted the trophy.
South Sudanese clubs in the Kagame Cup
South Sudan's champions have taken part since the country joined CECAFA. Kator FC represented the country in 2018. In 2019 Atlabara FC, fresh from winning the national championship, were drawn against Tanzania's KMC, Rayon Sports of Rwanda and TP Mazembe. They drew their opening match but lost 2–0 to Rayon Sports and were eliminated in the group stage, valuable experience for a club in its first regional tournament.
Why it matters
For clubs with limited budgets, the Kagame Cup offers rare competitive matches against stronger opponents and exposure to scouts from across the region. For national-team football in the zone, see the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup, and for Africa's main club competition read the CAF Champions League explained.