Tusker FC’s campaign at the 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup came to an early end after suffering a hard-fought 1-0 defeat to Rwandan giants Rayon Sports in a decisive Group C encounter at the Kigali Pelé Stadium.
The loss eliminated the Kenyan representatives from the regional tournament, ending their hopes of progressing to the knockout stage.
The defeat marked Tusker’s second consecutive loss in the competition after they had earlier fallen 2-0 to Sudan’s Al Hilal in their opening group fixture. With back-to-back defeats, the Kenyan side finished without a point, bringing their Kagame Cup journey to an abrupt conclusion.
Rayon Sports, buoyed by passionate home support, controlled large spells of the encounter and capitalized on their chances to maintain their perfect start to the tournament. The victory ensured the Rwandan outfit remained firmly in contention for a place in the quarter-finals, while Tusker were left to reflect on missed opportunities in front of goal.
Despite moments of promise and resilience, Tusker struggled to convert possession into meaningful attacking opportunities. The Brewers pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages, but Rayon Sports defended resolutely to preserve their slim advantage until the final whistle.
The early exit will be a disappointment for head coach Julien Mette and his squad, particularly after the club earned its place in the tournament as the 2026 FKF Cup champions. Expectations were high for the Kenyan side to make a deep run in the regional championship, but a difficult group campaign brought those ambitions to an end.
Rayon Sports joined Al Hilal as the early pace-setters in Group C, with both teams maintaining winning records heading into their final group-stage clash to determine the pool winners.
