CECAFA Kagame Cup: Gor Mahia target strong response against APR in tournament’s curtain-raiser
By Joel Masibo, July 24, 2026Gor Mahia head coach Charles Akonnor believes his side is ready to produce a far better display when they begin their 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup campaign against Rwandan champions APR on Friday, July 24, 2026, in Rwanda.
The Kenyan champions head into the regional tournament after suffering a 2-0 defeat to Rayon Sports in a warm-up match, but Akonnor insisted the result served as an important learning experience rather than a cause for concern.
Addressing journalists before the match on Thursday, July 23, 2026, the Ghanaian coach admitted Rayon Sports had enjoyed a longer pre-season build-up, though he stressed that Gor Mahia would not use that as an excuse.
Difficult contest
“It’s a privilege to be here. We’re very, very happy. Kigali has been beautiful as it is. We had a chance to do a lot of sightseeing and, at the same time, concentrate on our training. This is our second week of training since we started. We had a match with Rayon Sports. We lost, which was okay,” Charles Akonnor said.
Akonnor also praised the organisers for conducting sessions to educate participating teams on the latest amendments to the Laws of the Game.
He noted that while adapting to the revised regulations would take time, the workshops had helped players and coaches understand the changes before the tournament kicked off.
Looking ahead to the clash with APR, Akonnor acknowledged that his team faces a stern examination but expressed confidence in the work completed during pre-season. He commended his players for their commitment, professionalism and attitude throughout training, saying those qualities had left the coaching staff optimistic.
The former Ghana international added that the intensity shown in recent sessions convinced him Gor Mahia are prepared to compete strongly against the Rwandan giants.
“We are believing in our preparation; it’s a little bit challenging preparing for the season at the same time trying to do well in such a tournament. We are aware of the importance of this tournament, and we will showcase our talent tomorrow,” Charles Akonnor added.
“Not necessarily to talk about winning, but we want to perform better. There are certain areas that we are looking at, and we need to improve. I believe that once we do that, there’s a bigger chance for us to win.
“The opponent has said that they’ve been around for quite some time. They’ve started training earlier than us, but that is no excuse because when we played, we saw the importance of the things we have to do and the certain areas we have to improve. We’ve discussed, we’ve gone through the mistakes we made in our previous match, and we hope to improve tomorrow.”
Building momentum
Akonnor maintained that there is no pressure weighing on his squad despite the importance of the competition.
He explained that the CECAFA Kagame Cup forms a crucial part of Gor Mahia’s preparations for the upcoming CAF Champions League, giving the technical bench an opportunity to improve the team’s style of play, strengthen chemistry and address weaknesses before continental football begins.
The coach said the tournament would also allow his staff to evaluate the squad under competitive conditions while helping players become more familiar with his tactical approach.
He further revealed that squad rotation would continue during the competition. Although the lineup against APR will be more settled than in the previous friendly, several new arrivals are expected to receive playing time as the coaching staff assesses the entire squad.
“We are not too worried about anything, but we’ve taken this very, very seriously. But our fans need to know this also. To have a good start, not just for tomorrow, but of course, the preparation, the idea of what we want to do in the Champions League, these are things that can improve us. It can make us a better team, a better side, and so we are really looking forward to the match,” Charles Akonnor added.
Champions League preparation
Akonnor believes the CECAFA Kagame Cup provides the ideal platform to test Gor Mahia before they begin their CAF Champions League campaign.
He pointed out that supporters will also have the opportunity to watch the club’s new signings, who were recruited to strengthen the squad ahead of the new season.
The coach explained that the tournament will help the newcomers settle into the team, understand the club’s style of play and prove why they were brought to the club.
Akonnor also disclosed that his technical team had carefully reviewed Gor Mahia’s performance against Rayon Sports while analysing APR’s strengths and weaknesses.
According to him, those assessments have helped shape the tactical approach his side intends to use in Friday’s encounter.
“We will try to function very well in certain areas of the game, and I believe that once we do that, there will be a lot of chances for us. We are not looking at total control of the game, but because of where we are now,” he added.
“This is our second week, you know, and it means that the freshness that we expect from these boys will not be there. And so we will take it gradually. We are also very patient with them. We’ve got to be patient with them. But it will be an improved game from us. We will, tactically, be better than we were against our own sports. And that will be it.” He said.