Singida Black Stars vs Jamus

Jamus struck inside 12 minutes. Ramazani curled a free-kick over the wall and past Singida goalkeeper Metacha Mnata, giving the South Sudanese side a lead they never relinquished. The CECAFA.com match report described it as a "well taken strike" after the Singida defensive line was caught flat-footed.

Singida responded through Exauce Sagesse Nzaou and Mathew Tegisis, but neither could find the target. The Tanzanian champions pushed harder after the interval. Coach Papy Okitankoyi Kimoto made several changes, introducing Linda Mtange and Jonathan Sowah, who both had attempts from distance that failed to trouble Jamus goalkeeper Majak Maling Mawith.

Just as the match entered added time, Jamus sealed it. Substitute Mario Taban Cherelino nodded in a Sabastin Teclar cross in the 90+2nd minute, doubling the lead and extinguishing any hope of a Singida comeback.

Ramazani's 12th-minute opener. It forced Singida — overwhelming favourites on paper — to chase the game from early on, disrupting their rhythm and playing into Jamus's counter-attacking structure. The champions never fully recovered.

Laurent Ramazani (Jamus): Scored the opener with a composed finish from a set-piece. His ability to convert from a dead-ball situation gave Jamus the platform to defend deep and counter.

Mario Taban Cherelino (Jamus): The substitute made the decisive contribution, climbing highest to meet Teclar's cross and head home the second goal in stoppage time.

Majak Maling Mawith (Jamus): A clean sheet on his CECAFA Kagame Cup debut. The Jamus goalkeeper was not severely tested but commanded his area when called upon.

Player of the match: Laurent Ramazani — his goal decided the game's trajectory.

The match was not a stats-heavy contest. No cards were issued, and neither side dominated possession to a significant degree. Jamus's efficiency in front of goal — two goals from limited clear-cut chances — tells the story. Singida managed several attempts through Nzaou, Tegisis, Mtange and Sowah, but none forced a save of note. The underlying numbers would likely reflect Singida's greater volume of efforts weighted against Jamus's higher-quality opportunities.

Group B is wide open after one matchday. Jamus lead with three points, while Simba SC (Tanzania) and Mogadishu City Club (Somalia) played out a goalless draw in the other fixture, leaving them tied on one point each. Singida Black Stars sit bottom with zero points.

Jamus next face six-time champions Simba SC. Singida take on Mogadishu City Club in a must-win fixture to keep their knockout-stage hopes alive. For a side that lifted the trophy in 2025, Saturday's result was a stark reminder that the CECAFA Kagame Cup field has deepened.

Jamus were clinical where it mattered; Singida were not. The defending champions were not outplayed but were out-thought and out-finished. If Jamus can replicate this defensive discipline against Simba, they have a genuine chance of topping the group.