WACC 2026: Horoya Reclaim West Africa Champions Cup After Dramatic Kankan Triumph

Posted : 25 August 2026

Horoya AC have reclaimed the West Africa Champions Cup after overcoming hosts Karfamoriah FC on penalties in a tense all-Guinean final in Kankan.

The Matam-based side held their nerve to win 5-3 in the shootout after the final ended goalless at the Stade M’Ballou Mady Diakité, securing their second title in the competition four years after they won the inaugural edition in 2022.

The triumph completed an impressive recovery for Horoya, who endured a difficult start to the fifth edition. The Guinean champions opened their campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Stade Malien before responding with victories over defending champions Djoliba AC and FC Diarra.

Against Djoliba, Horoya produced a 2-1 comeback victory, while Yakhouba Gnagna Barry was decisive in the 2-1 win over FC Diarra, scoring both goals to strengthen his side’s push for a place in the final.

Karfamoriah, meanwhile, emerged as one of the surprise stories of the tournament. The Kankan-based club made an explosive start by defeating Sierra Leone’s Star Sport Academy 4-0 before edging Stade Malien 1-0. Their strong run earned them a place in the final and gave the home supporters a chance to witness an all-Guinean title decider.

The tournament itself marked another step in the development of the West Africa Champions Cup, a competition created to provide clubs in the region with meaningful preparation ahead of their domestic seasons and CAF inter-club campaigns. The 2026 edition brought together nine clubs from Guinea, Mali, Mauritania and Sierra Leone after the late withdrawal of Sudanese side Al Hilal.

Organisers also introduced a group-stage format and strengthened the tournament’s media profile, with Guinea’s national broadcaster, RTG, taking responsibility for production and television coverage. The changes were aimed at giving the competition greater visibility while maintaining its primary purpose as a competitive pre-season platform for clubs preparing for continental football.

The tournament provided several memorable storylines, from Karfamoriah’s impressive run on home soil to Horoya’s recovery from defeat and AS Réal de Bamako’s 3-1 victory over Hafia FC that ended the Guinean club’s hopes of reaching the final.

For Horoya, however, the lasting image of the 2026 edition will be the return of the trophy to Matam. Four years after their first WACC triumph, the Guinean champions have added a second title to their name and head into the new season with renewed confidence and valuable competitive minutes ahead of their CAF Champions League campaign.

The victory also underlines the growing importance of the West Africa Champions Cup as a regional pre-season tournament, bringing together clubs from across the sub-region while giving them an opportunity to test themselves against serious opposition before the demands of continental football begin.

WACC 2026: Horoya Reclaim West Africa Champions Cup After Dramatic Kankan Triumph

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