Gor Mahia survived a tense final group encounter to edge past Garde Republicaine of Djibouti 1-0 at Kigali Pele Stadium on Thursday night, securing their passage to the semifinals of the 2026 CECAFA tournament in dramatic fashion.

The solitary strike by striker Paul Okoth, which came inside the opening five minutes, proved sufficient as the Kenyan giants held their nerve against a resilient Djiboutian side to claim all three points in their last Group A assignment.

The victory ensured K’Ogalo finished atop the group standings, with all three teams, Gor Mahia, Vipers SC of Uganda and APR FC of Rwanda, tied on six points each. However, it was the Kenyan champions who emerged as group winners courtesy of a superior goal difference, a reward for their emphatic 5-0 demolition of APR in their tournament opener.

The result now sets up an intriguing semifinal showdown for K’Ogalo, who will lock horns with either Rayon Sport of Rwanda or Singida Big Stars of Tanzania.

Both teams are still battling for top spot and Gor Mahia will be watching closely as they prepare for their next challenge.