Vipers SC out as CECAFA Kagame Cup enters semifinals

What the report says

Vipers SC, the Uganda Premier League side, has been knocked out of the CECAFA Kagame Cup after the group stage in Kigali, Rwanda, according to The Independent Uganda’s report based on Xinhua. The club finished second in Group A, with wins over Djibouti’s Garde Republicaine FC and Kenya’s Gor Mahia FC, but a loss to host APR FC prevented it from reaching the semifinals.

Head coach Denis Lavagne said the tournament had served as useful preparation during the team’s pre-season period. He said it allowed Vipers to test players and give several of them international exposure as the club prepares for the new season and for the CAF Champions League. That context suggests the competition mattered not only for results, but also for squad building ahead of more demanding continental fixtures.

The 12-team regional tournament, which features clubs from nine countries, moves into the semifinal round on Tuesday. The remaining teams are Sudan’s Al Hilal SC, Rwanda’s Rayon Sports FC, South Sudan’s Jamus FC and Kenya’s Gor Mahia FC. CECAFA competitions director Yusuf Mossi said the event was created to help teams prepare better for the CAF calendar. The champion is due to receive $30,000, with prize money also set for the runner-up and third place.