Tusker FC suffered a disappointing start to their 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup campaign after losing 2-0 to Sudanese giants Al Hilal at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali on Sunday.
Kamaradini Mamudu opened the scoring in the 29th minute before substitute Salim Adams completed the victory deep into stoppage time, handing Al Hilal all three points in the Group C encounter.
The contest began at a lively pace, with Al Hilal enjoying more of the ball while Tusker remained compact and looked for opportunities to attack on the counter.
Al Hilal created the first clear opening when Mamudu delivered a cross into the penalty area for Yasir Mozamil, whose header narrowly missed the target.
The Sudanese side continued to press and eventually made the breakthrough through Mamudu, whose effort found its way past the Tusker defence to give Al Hilal the lead.
Tusker responded by pushing higher up the pitch and came close to drawing level through captain Abud Omar. His curling free kick beat the defensive wall but drifted narrowly wide of the post before the half-time whistle.
The Brewers returned for the second half with greater urgency and began committing more players forward as they searched for an equaliser.
Omar remained Tusker’s main threat from set pieces, forcing Al Hilal goalkeeper Soufiane Farid into several important saves as the Kenyan side increased the pressure.
Tusker continued to create opportunities during the closing stages and nearly found a way back into the match from a late corner, but the Al Hilal goalkeeper produced another strong save to protect his team’s narrow advantage.
With Tusker pushing numbers forward, Al Hilal exploited the space left behind and sealed the result in added time. Akire Taiwo advanced down the right before delivering a cutback for Adams, who finished from close range to make it 2-0.
The defeat leaves Tusker needing a positive result when they face Rwandan side Rayon Sports at Kigali Pele Stadium on Wednesday.
For the dressing room Brewers will conclude their group-stage campaign against Zanzibar’s KVZ SC at the same venue on Saturday, August 1, as they continue their push for a place in the knockout rounds.
