Al Hilal SC started their 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup marketing campaign with a 2-0 victory over Kenyan aspect Tusker FC at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali on Sunday night.
Targets from Kamaradini Mamudu and Salim Adams secured all three factors for the Sudanese giants of their Group C opener, renewing recent quest for the trophy they misplaced to present holders Singida Black Stars.
Al Hilal dominated possession from the outset however discovered themselves up in opposition to a disciplined Tusker aspect that remained compact defensively and seemed to threaten on the counterattack.
The breakthrough got here within the thirtieth minute when Mamudu’s effort took a decisive deflection, wrong-footing Tusker goalkeeper Brandon Obiero and giving Al Hilal the lead.
Tusker got here near an equaliser earlier than halftime by defender Abud Omar, whose curling free-kick narrowly missed the goal because the Brewers went into the break trailing 1-0.
Looking for a response, Tusker head coach Julien Mette made 4 modifications at halftime, bringing on Tom Teka, Yakeen Mutheli, Brian Ikutwa and Fabi.
The substitutions injected better urgency into Tusker’s play as they pushed greater up the pitch in the hunt for an equaliser.
Abud threatened once more from a set piece halfway by the second half, forcing a full-stretch save from the Al Hilal goalkeeper. The rebound fell kindly to Disse, however the ahead didn’t convert from shut vary. Victor Ali additionally examined the goalkeeper with a low effort from the sting of the field.
Tusker’s greatest likelihood got here within the ninetieth minute when substitute Steve Omondi met Hood’s nook with a strong header, just for the Al Hilal goalkeeper to provide an excellent save.
Tusker’s hopes of salvaging a minimum of a degree had been lastly extinguished in stoppage time when Adams completed off a swift counterattack to seal a 2-0 victory for the Sudanese aspect.
Tusker will now flip their consideration to Wednesday’s essential Group C encounter in opposition to hosts Rayon Sports activities earlier than going through Zanzibar’s KVZ SC of their last group-stage match.
