Rayon Sports Stars Dominate CECAFA Kagame Cup 2026 Individual Awards

KIGALI, Rwanda — Champions Rayon Sports swept the major individual honours at the 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup as the tournament’s official awards were announced following their dramatic extra-time victory over Gor Mahia.

The Blues claimed both the Player of the Tournament and Golden Glove awards, while the top scorer prize was shared between two standout forwards from different clubs.

Player of the Tournament: Emmanuel Nshimiyimana

Rayon Sports captain Emmanuel Nshimiyimana, popularly known as “Kabange”, was named Player of the Tournament. The influential midfielder led by example throughout the competition, delivering consistent performances and providing the assist for Junior Kameni’s opening goal in the final.

His leadership was instrumental as Rayon Sports went through the entire tournament unbeaten, culminating in the 2-1 extra-time win over Gor Mahia that ended a 28-year wait for the regional title.

Golden Glove: Dande Junior

Between the posts, Dande Junior (also referred to as Junior Dande) of Rayon Sports was awarded the Golden Glove. The goalkeeper produced a series of important saves and conceded just two goals across the entire competition, underlining the defensive solidity that formed the foundation of the champions’ success.

Joint Top Scorers: Samura and Ouattara

The race for the Golden Boot ended in a tie. Ansumana Samura of Al Hilal and Djibril Ouattara (Cheick Djibril Ouattara) of APR FC finished as joint top scorers with three goals apiece.

Samura was a constant threat for the Sudanese side, who claimed the bronze medal with a 2-1 win over Jamus SC. Ouattara, the Burkinabe forward, was equally clinical for APR FC during the group stage, helping keep their campaign competitive.

A Fitting Reward for the Champions

Rayon Sports’ dominance on the pitch was reflected in the individual awards list. After lifting the trophy in front of their home fans at Amahoro Stadium, the club can now celebrate both collective and personal success.

The 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup will be remembered not only for Rayon Sports’ long-awaited triumph but also for the outstanding contributions of Nshimiyimana, Dande Junior, Samura and Ouattara.