Ghanaian head coach Charles Kwablan Akonnor watched his side take control after a competitive opening half-hour, scoring twice in two minutes before half-time and adding three more after the break in front of a capacity crowd that included Rwandan President Paul Kagame.
Standing-in captain Michael Kibwage broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute with a powerful header. Cameroonian forward Patrick Essombe doubled the lead almost immediately in the 35th minute with a crisp low strike from outside the area.
After the interval, substitute Paul Okoth Odhiambo made it 3-0 in the 73rd minute. Late goals from Lesley Otieno Owino and Ghanaian debutant Ebenezer Assifuah-Inkoom completed the rout.
“I am very proud of the team for picking up such a big win in our opening match,” Akonnor said afterwards. “We still have many crucial matches ahead, and we will treat every opponent with utmost seriousness.”
The result puts Gor Mahia top of Group A on goal difference ahead of Uganda’s Vipers SC, who earlier defeated Djibouti’s Garde Républicaine 3-0.
Group A standings (after Matchday 1)
| Rank | Club | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gor Mahia FC 🇰🇪 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | +5 | 3 |
| 2 | Vipers SC 🇺🇬 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 3 |
| 3 | Garde Républicaine 🇩🇯 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
| 4 | APR FC 🇷🇼 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | -5 | 0 |
The emphatic victory ranks among APR’s heaviest home defeats in the competition and gives Gor Mahia a strong platform as they prepare for a key clash against Vipers SC.