Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) champions Gor Mahia will open their CECAFA Kagame Cup campaign against Zambia’s Red Arrows.Gor found themselves in Group B in a draw conducted on Wednesday. They are expected to use the tournament as part of their preseason preparation as they gear up to return to the CAF Champions League and retain the FKFPL title.The record Premier League champions will take to the field on Wednesday 10 July according to the fixtures released on Thursday morning. The clash against the Arrows will be staged at Azam Sports Complex in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.##NAJAVA_MECA_8194203##After the opener, K’Ogalo will face Telkom FC from Djibouti three days later before closing the group proceedings with a match against Sudan’s giants Al Hilal on Tuesday 16 July 16 4 PM.The tournament will be a good platform for new coach Leonardo Martins Neiva, who was unveiled by the Kenyan giants earlier in the week.They hope to perform better in the continental scene, which they missed last season due to a ban from FIFA.It is unclear if the Gor Mahia players who participated in the 2024 COSAFA Cup will be part of the tournament, as they are yet to receive adequate rest after the season ended.However, reports indicate that Neiva wants them to be part of the team and has included them in their plan. COSAFA Cup: Why Harambee Stars exit is a blessing for Gor MahiaOther notable faces who should feature in the tournament include left-back Levin Odhiambo, who joined the team midway through last season but could not play for the club since he signed after the window had closed.Other MatchesSudan’s Al Wadi will kick off the competition with a clash against JKU SC in a Group A encounter at the KMC Stadium in Kinondoni.The second Group A match will see Tanzania’s representatives in the 2024/2025 TotalEnergies CAF Confederation Cup, Coastal Union FC, face Somalia’s giants Dekadaha.Ugandan side SC Villa will start against El Merriekh Bentiu FC (South Sudan) in a Group C match to be played later in the evening on Tuesday 9 July at the Azam Complex, Chamazi.SC Villa, who recently lifted the Uganda Premier League title after 20 years of waiting, are not strangers to this regional tournament, having won the Cup three times.Compel FC coach unmoved as clubs circle around his playersEl Merriekh Bentiu, the 2023/2024 South Sudan League champions, will be making their debut in the CECAFA Kagame Cup.The last match on Day 1 will see Rwanda Premier League champions APR FC battle Singida Big Stars FC (Tanzania) in a Group C match at the Azam Complex, Chamazi.Yusuf Mossi, the CECAFA Competitions Manager, says Thursday 11 July will be a rest day before action resumes the next day with four matches on the card.The last group matches will be played on Tuesday 16 July, while the semi-finals take center stage on Friday 19 July.The top teams in each of the three groups and the best runner-up will qualify for the semi-final stage. The play-off match to determine which team finishes third and the final will be played on July 21 at the Azam Complex, Chamazi.
