Three of East Africa’s most prominent clubs, Tanzania’s Simba SC, Yanga SC, and Uganda’s Vipers SC, will not take part in this year’s CECAFA Kagame Cup, casting a shadow over what had promised to be a high-profile tournament. Their absence was confirmed on the same day the draw for the 2025 edition of the regional club championship was conducted in Nairobi, where Kenyan betting firm Betika was unveiled as the newest sponsor with a significant Ksh 42 million partnership package. CECAFA and Betika signed the agreement during a ceremony held on Thursday morning at the Pan Pacific Suites in Nairobi, Kenya.
The colourful launch ceremony, held in Nairobi, Kenya, was graced by CECAFA executive members Doris Petra (Kenya) and Wallace Karia (Tanzania, who also serves as TFF President), alongside Competitions Director Yusuf Mossi. While Rwandan President Paul Kagame did not attend in person, his longstanding sponsorship of $60,000 (approximately Ksh 9.3 million) since 2002 continues to anchor the tournament’s legacy , now in its 23rd year making it one of the longest-running regional club competitions on the continent.
Despite the absence of Simba, Yanga, and Vipers, the tournament still boasts a competitive field. Kenya Police FC, fresh off their maiden FKF Premier League title, headline Group A. They will face Ethiopian giants Coffee SC, Tanzania’s Singida Black Stars, and Djibouti’s Garde-Côtes FC.
Group B brings together Rwandan champions APR FC; Uganda’s NEC FC; Bumamuru FC from Burundi; and Zanzibar’s Mlandege SC, while Group C features two Sudanese sides: Al Hilal Omdurman and Al Ahly SC Wad Madani, alongside South Sudan’s Kator FC and Somalia’s Mogadishu City Club.
The 2025 Kagame Cup will be staged in Dar es Salaam from 2nd to 15th September, with matches scheduled across four venues: Azam Complex, Chamazi, KMC Stadium, and the Major General Isamuyo Stadium.
Speaking during the draw, CECAFA Competitions Director Yusuf Mossi reiterated the importance of the tournament in building club competitiveness across the region. CECAFA Executive Director Auka Gecheo added: “This competition will also help our teams in the region to prepare ahead of the 2025/2026 CAF competitions which kick off next month.”
Traditionally, the Kagame Cup champions take home Ksh 3.8 million in prize money; with the runners-up receiving Ksh 2.5 million and third place pocketing Ksh 1.29 million. With Betika’s financial injection, organizers hinted that the prize structure could be revised upward, further raising the stakes.
