Zanzibar Premier League champions Mlandege FC have suffered a 3-2 defeat to KMC FC in their opening Group B match at the on-going CECAFA Kagame Cup 2025.

The Tanzania Premier League side took a 1-0 first half lead with Juma Mwita Sagwe scoring the goal.

After recess Rashid Mohamed Chambo and Abdallah Said Ali added two more goals for KMC who took a 3-0 lead. But a good fight back by Mlandege FC almost saw them snatch a draw.

Abed Ama scored a penalty on 90 minutes, while Aimar Hafidh added another in the second minute of added time.

Abdalla Mohamed, the Mlandege FC head coach said that his team did not defend well in the earlier part of the match, but fought back strongly. “We need to improve in the remaining two group matches,” added the coach.

Mlandege FC are also using the CECAFA Kagame Cup 2025 to prepare ahead of the first preliminary round of the 2025/2026 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League where they will face Ethiopian Insurance FC.

In the earlier Group B match 2024 finalists APR FC of Rwanda defeated Bumamuru FC (Burundi) 2-0.

The tournament that has attracted 12 teams is sponsored by one of the leading betting companies in the Africa continent Betika.