CECAFA Kagame Cup 2021 came to a climax Saturday night as Expreess FC clinched their maiden title of the regional tournament with a tightly contested 1-0 victory over Nyasa Big Bullets at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.
Martin Kizza’s strike in the 22nd minute made the all-important difference as the Ugandan champions lifted their first Cecafa Kagame Cup for the first time in history.
Express dominated looked to get off to an early start with Muzamiru Mutyaba serving a real threat to Big Bullets’ defense which was kept on their toes every time the latter got hold of the ball.
Mutyaba wasted a clear chance to double the lead when his shot went off target after dribbling past Gomezhani Chirwa and Yamikana Fodya.
Bullets took a more dominant approach thereafter and managed to carve out a couple more openings as Precious Phiri and Babatunde Andepoju both went close just after quarter an hour mark,
However, it was the men from Kampala who got the opening goal in the 22nd minute as Martin Kizza past one challenge before sending one into the far post past Bullets keeper Rabson Chinyenda.
Bullets nearly pulled themselves through Phiri just before the interval, but Joel Mutakubwa was at his best to keep out Phiri’s left-footed effort from the edge of the box.
Peter Mponda responded with a change at the start of the second half, with Hassan Kajoke replacing McFallen Mgwira as they went in search of an equaliser.
With the Red Eagles dominating in the second half, Bullets nearly bagged themselves a second goal on the counter but Charles Musiige was unable to profit from close range.
Paul Kansungwi and Miracle Gabeya were thrown on for the final 20 minutes, with Kajoke and Babatunde making way after a frustrating afternoon.
The changes would not make the desired impact as Express held on to claim their maiden Cecafa Kagame Cup.
Express bagged the top prize of US$30,000 while Nyasa Big Bullets, by virtue of being second, pocketed US$20,000 and US$10,000 for KMKM, all courtesy of the annual support from President Kagame.
