Uganda’s Vipers SC kicked off their 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup campaign with a convincing 3-0 victory over Djibouti’s Garde Républicaine FC, making an early statement in Group A of the regional tournament.
The opening fixture, played at Amahoro Stadium on Friday afternoon, marked the start of the competition, which Rwanda is hosting until August 7.
Vipers settled the contest before halftime with an impressive attacking display that yielded all three goals.
Farouk Miya, who recently returned to the club after nearly a decade away, broke the deadlock in the 16th minute with a superbly struck free kick.
The experienced Uganda international doubled the lead in the 39th minute before Abdul Karim Watambala capped a dominant first-half performance with a third goal in stoppage time.
Garde Républicaine showed greater resilience after the restart but failed to find a way back into the match as Vipers comfortably preserved their clean sheet to claim all three points.
The result temporarily sent Vipers to the top of Group A with three points and a healthy goal difference, ahead of the group’s second opening fixture between Rwanda’s APR FC and Kenya’s Gor Mahia.
Group A action resumes on July 27, when Garde Républicaine face APR FC before Vipers take on Gor Mahia in a clash that could prove decisive in the battle for top spot and qualification to the knockout stage.
