Zambian Super League champions Red Arrows have been invited to participate in the 2024 CECAFA Kagame Cup set for Tanzania and Zanzibar.
The Airmen, alongside DR Congo giants TP and Malawian champions Nyasa Big Bullets, complete the list of invited teams for the competition that will run from July 6 to 22.
Chisi Mbewe’s side will return to the CAF Champions League next season and hope to reach the group stages for the first time.
The Council of East and Central Africa Football Association (CECAFA) has revealed that the competition will help teams prepare for the upcoming 2024–25 CAF interclub competitions.
CECAFA Executive Director John Auka Geheo said the inclusion of Red Arrows, TP Mazembe, and Nyasa Big Bullets will give teams in the region a real test ahead of the CAF season.
“This competition will help our teams in the zone prepare better in the preseason ahead of the 2024/25 CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup, which start in August. Having top sides from DR Congo, Malawi, and Zambia will also spice up our club competition and give our teams a real test,” Geheo said.
Meanwhile, CECAFA has cancelled the 2024 Men’s Senior Challenge that was scheduled for June 29 to July 14 to allow players to prepare for the Kagame Cup.
The teams that will compete in the 2024 edition include Vital’O of Burundi, APR of Rwanda, and the and the Sudanese trio of El Merreikh, Al Hilal, and Hai El Wadi.
Others include Young African SC, Azam FC, Coastal Union FC, and Simba, all from Tanzania; Gor Mahia of Kenya; SC Villa of Uganda; JKU SC of Zanzibar; El Merreikh FC Bentiu of South Sudan; Nyasa Big Bullets; Red Arrows; and TP Mazembe.
