Rayon Sports Lift Rayon Day 2026 Trophy After Beating Gor Mahia 2-0

Rayon Sports gave their supporters a memorable end to Rayon Day 2026, defeating Kenyan giants Gor Mahia FC 2-0 at Kigali Pelé Stadium to lift the annual pre-season trophy and send a strong message ahead of the 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup. The match, played after the official unveiling of the club's new squad for the 2026/27 season, attracted thousands of fans who packed the stadium to witness the new-look Rayon Sports in action. The Rwandan side started brightly, creating several early chances. Midfielder Boris Gbenou came close to opening the scoring in the fourth minute when his powerful strike rattled the crossbar, while Muderi Akbar also tested Gor Mahia goalkeeper Bryne Omondi in the opening exchanges. Rayon Sports finally broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time. Beninese forward Antonio Atisso Kodjo capitalized on a goalkeeping mistake after being set up by Nizeyimana Mubarak, giving the home side a deserved 1-0 lead before the break. Head coach Francis Haringingo made several changes in the second half, introducing a number of new signings and young players. The substitutions injected fresh energy into the team, with youngster Muhoza Daniel and Cameroonian striker Junior Kameni making an immediate impact. Gor Mahia pushed for an equalizer late in the game and came close when Paul Okoth struck the woodwork in stoppage time, but goalkeeper Drissa Kouyaté kept Rayon Sports' clean sheet intact. Moments later, Junior Kameni produced an excellent run before delivering a perfectly weighted pass to Ndikumana Fabio, who calmly finished to seal a 2-0 victory in the 94th minute. The final whistle sparked celebrations among the home supporters as Rayon Sports were presented with the Rayon Day 2026 Trophy, ending a six-year wait for victory on their annual club celebration day. Several new signings impressed during the match, particularly Chadian defender Charles Tchouplaou, goalscorer Antonio Atisso Kodjo, Malian midfielder Issa Djiguiba, and young forward Muhoza Daniel, all of whom showed encouraging signs ahead of the new campaign. While the result came in a friendly match, it provided a confidence boost for Rayon Sports before they begin their 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup campaign against KVZ FC of Zanzibar on 26 July at Amahoro Stadium. The performance suggested that the Blues are building a competitive squad capable of challenging for domestic silverware and making a strong impression in regional competitions during the 2026/27 season.