Vipers SC launched their 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup campaign in irresistible fashion, sweeping aside Djibouti’s FC Garde Républicaine 3-0 with a polished and commanding display at Amahoro Stadium on Friday.
The Venoms settled the contest before halftime through a scintillating attacking performance orchestrated by returning talisman Farouk Miya, who struck twice, before reigning Uganda Premier League Most Valuable Player (MVP) Karim Watambala put the result beyond doubt with a composed finish.
Miya ignited Vipers’ charge with a sublime curling free-kick that sailed beyond the goalkeeper and nestled into the back of the net, handing the Ugandan champions a deserved early breakthrough.
The experienced midfielder soon doubled his tally, displaying sharp predatory instincts by pouncing on a loose rebound inside the area after Garde Républicaine failed to clear their lines.
Vipers continued to overwhelm their opponents with fluid attacking football and carved out a third goal before the break. Odili Chukwuma unlocked the defence with a perfectly weighted pass, allowing Watambala to calmly slot home and complete a devastating first-half masterclass.
The second period was a controlled affair as Denis Lavagne’s side expertly dictated the tempo, nullified any threat from the Djiboutian outfit and comfortably preserved their clean sheet without ever looking troubled.
The resounding victory sends Vipers to the top of Group A and provides the perfect platform ahead of far sterner examinations against Kenyan heavyweights Gor Mahia FC and Rwandan champions APR FC in their remaining group-stage fixtures.