Gor Mahia stand-in captain Mike Kibwage/HANDOUT Gor Mahia stand-in captain Mike Kibwage has urged the club’s supporters to rally behind the team as the Kenyan champions prepare for Friday’s CECAFA Kagame Cup final against hosts Rayon Sports at the refurbished Amahoro Stadium.
With one match separating Gor from their first regional title in decades, Kibwage says the players are determined to seize an opportunity that has survived injuries, suspension, a gruelling semi-final and a difficult tournament campaign.
“We want to appreciate them... We are left with one 90 minutes, which we are going to do or die for us to be able to achieve this opportunity.”
Kibwage has worn the captain’s armband in the absence of injured skipper Sylvester Owino and has become one of the voices driving Gor through a demanding tournament. The defender has repeatedly urged his teammates to turn setbacks into motivation, particularly after their 1-0 group-stage defeat by Vipers SC.
Standing between Gor and the trophy will be a Rayon side enjoying the advantage of a partisan home crowd and an unbeaten run through the tournament. Captain Emmanuel Nshimiyimana Kabange says the Rwandan club has a clear mission to retain the trophy and end a 28-year wait for another regional triumph. “The spirit is to rewrite history. Secondly, it is to defend this title and make sure it remains in the country.”
Rayon reached the final after sweeping aside South Sudan’s Jamus SC 3-1 in the semi-finals, while Gor dramatically booked their place by overcoming Sudanese giants Al Hilal 8-7 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
Gor survived extra time with 10 men in that semi-final and will enter Friday’s showdown with a depleted squad. Owino, Patrick Essombe and Samuel Kapen are among those facing fitness concerns, while Ebenezer Ocran is suspended following his dismissal in the semi-final.
Kibwage, however, believes the adversity has strengthened the Kenyan champions rather than weakened their resolve.
“We have been through difficult moments in this tournament, but every match has taught us something and prepared us for this final.”
Nshimiyimana believes Rayon’s home support could provide the extra edge as the club attempts to write another chapter in their history. The captain says the ambition belongs not only to the players but to the entire Rayon family. “This is not only our ambition as players. It is the ambition of the whole family of Rayon Sports and our fans.”
The final will also bring Omar Abdulkadir Artan back onto one of Africa’s biggest stages. The Somali official, who was named the 2025 CAF Men’s Best Referee, has been appointed to take charge of the contest.
Artan’s appointment comes after a turbulent year in which his rise to the top of African refereeing was overshadowed by his exclusion from the 2026 Fifa World Cup.
He had been selected to become the first Somali referee to officiate at a men’s World Cup, but was denied entry into the United States in June despite holding a valid visa and travel documentation.
The setback prevented Artan from training and officiating at the World Cup, but he has since returned to the international spotlight. His appointment for Friday’s final gives him another major assignment at a time when his reputation as one of Africa’s leading officials remains firmly intact.
Djibouti’s Liban Abdulrazack will assist Artan as first assistant referee and Kenya’s Eliezer Stephen Yiembe as second assistant. Kick-off is scheduled for 6 pm EAT.
Back on the pitch, Gor will have to produce a disciplined performance against a Rayon side that has looked increasingly assured as the tournament has progressed.
The Kenyan champions opened their campaign with a spectacular 5-0 victory over APR before losing narrowly to Vipers. They recovered to progress from Group A and then edged Al Hilal in a dramatic penalty shootout.
Rayon have been equally impressive, defeating Jamus 3-1 in their semi-final, with Nshimiyimana providing the decisive cross of the opening goal.
Kibwage knows the final will demand even greater concentration from a Gor side that has already endured a bruising route to the final. “We have to stay together, believe in ourselves and give everything because this is the last game and there is no room for regrets.”
Nshimiyimana, meanwhile, insists the Kenyan champions' presence will overshadow Rayon's reputation. “We respect Gor Mahia, but we believe in ourselves, and we know what we want to achieve in front of our supporters.”
The financial stakes are also significant. The champions will receive US$30,000 (Sh3.9 million), while the runners-up will pocket $20,000 (Sh2.5m). The third-placed team will earn $10,000 (Sh1.2 million). Before the final, Al Hilal and Jamus will meet at Amahoro Stadium in the third-place play-off.
For Gor, Friday represents a chance to end decades of waiting for regional silverware. For Rayon, it is an opportunity to defend the crown on home soil and end a 28-year wait dating back to their last regional triumph in 1998.
Kibwage says Gor have no intention of allowing the opportunity to slip away. “We know what is at stake. We have worked hard to reach this point, and now we have to finish the job.”
Nshimiyimana, equally determined to deliver for the hosts, believes the final could become a defining night for Rayon Sports.
“We want to win this trophy for Rwanda, for Rayon Sports and for our fans. That is the mission.”
