The millions Gor Mahia could take home if they win the CECAFA Kagame Cup

The millions Gor Mahia could take home if they win the CECAFA Kagame Cup

Mark Kinyanjui 10:03 - 07.07.2024

The millions Gor Mahia stand to win should they take home the CECAFA Kagame Cup which commences next week.

The Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) announced on Friday, July 5, the total prize money for this year's Dar Port Kagame Cup, set to take place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Gor Mahia is among the 12 participating teams having been drawn into Group B alongside Zambia’s Red Arrows FC, Telkom FC of Djibouti, and Al Hilal of Sudan.

According to CECAFA Executive Director John Auka Gecheo, the total prize money for the tournament will be $60,000 (Ksh7,639,200). 

“We are glad that since 2002 His Excellency Kagame has supported the growth of Football in the CECAFA Zone (with this contribution)," he said as per CECAFA portal.

This amount, provided with the support of His Excellency Paul Kagame of Rwanda, aims to further promote football development in the CECAFA Zone. The prize money will be distributed among the top three teams in the tournament.

The tournament winner will take home $30,000 (Ksh3,819,600), the runner-up will receive $20,000 (Ksh2,546,400), and the third-place team will earn $10,000 (Ksh1,273,200). 

The competition format includes the top team from each of the three groups and the best runner-up from any group automatically qualifying for the semi-final stage.

Red Arrows FC, the only guest team, will join the competition sponsored by the Tanzania Ports Authority and Azam TV.

In preparation, Gor Mahia has strengthened its squad with new signings Samuel Kapen, Chris Pius Akena, and Gedeon Bendeka. The club aims to secure its first Kagame Cup title under new head coach Leonardo Martins Neiva. 

Gor Mahia last lifted the trophy in 1985 after defeating arch-rivals AFC Leopards 2-0, marking their third Kagame Cup victory.

The tournament final is scheduled for Sunday, July 21. The groupings for the competition are as follows:

Group A: Coast Union FC (Tanzania), Al Wadi FC (Sudan), JKU SC (Zanzibar), Dekedaha FC (Somalia).

Group B: Al Hilal (Sudan), Gor Mahia FC (Kenya), Red Arrows FC (Zambia), Djibouti Telecom (Djibouti).

Group C: SC Villa (Uganda), APR FC (Rwanda), Singida Black Stars (Tanzania), El Merriekh Bentiu (South Sudan).