Defending champions Singida Black Stars endured a disappointing start to their CECAFA Kagame Cup title defence after falling 2-0 to South Sudan's Jamus FC in their opening Group stage match in Kigali, Rwanda.
Jamus FC made an aggressive start and took the lead in the 11th minute through Laurent, whose clinical finish gave the South Sudanese side an early advantage.
Singida struggled to respond before the break, trailing 1-0 at halftime despite enjoying spells of possession.
The Tanzanian side returned with greater urgency in the second half, pressing for an equaliser and creating a number of promising opportunities.
However, wasteful finishing and disciplined defending by Jamus FC prevented Singida from getting back into the contest.
With Singida committing players forward in search of a late goal, Jamus FC exploited the spaces left behind and sealed the victory in stoppage time.
Mario Taban struck in the 90+5th minute after a swift counterattack, putting the result beyond doubt.
The defeat leaves Singida Black Stars facing an early challenge in their bid to retain the regional title. The Tanzanian club will now need positive results in their remaining Group stage matches to keep their hopes of reaching the knockout rounds and defending the CECAFA Kagame Cup alive.
