Prior to the match, the two nations had 8 titles between them, with Kenya claiming 5 titles, 8 less than the record 13 titles held by Uganda, who were knocked out by Tanzania in the quarter-finals. This was Sudan's first participation in a CECAFA Cup final since 2007, when they beat Rwanda 1–0 to clinch their 3rd title. This was also the first time the two nations faced each other in a final, and was Kenya's first win in 11 years.
Kenya, who were hosting the tournament as part of its celebrations of 50 years of independence, were drawn into Group A alongside Ethiopia and South Sudan, whom they were with in the same group the previous year, as well as Zanzibar.[5] They began their campaign against Ethiopia on 27 November, with whom they drew 0–0 despite both teams having several chances to win the game.[6] The next match against South Sudan proved to be a relatively easier affair for the Harambee Stars, who won the game 3–1 at the Nyayo National Stadium thanks to goals from Jockins Atudo, 2013 Kenyan Premier League top scorer Jacob Keli and David Owino, despite Atudo's goal being cancelled out by Richard Justin in the 26th minute.[7] Kenya beat Zanzibar 2–0 in their last group stage match at the Afraha Stadium in Nakuru, through Jockins Atudo's second goal from the penalty spot and a stunning strike from the edge of the penalty box by A.F.C. Leopards striker Allan Wanga.[8] Since Ethiopia finished their group stage campaign with the same number of points, goal difference and goals as Kenya, a coin toss was decided on to determine the winner of Group A. Kenya won the toss and booked themselves a match against Rwanda in the quarter-finals.[9]
In the quarter-finals, Rwanda proved to be very tough opposition for Kenya, who narrowly managed to grab a win through a penalty kick from Jockins Atudo, after the ball was handled in the box by Michel Rusheshangoga. The goal was Atudo's third goal of the tournament, his third from the penalty spot, making him Kenya's top scorer of the tournament and sending Kenya through to the semi-finals.[10]
Sudan were drawn into Group C alongside Eritrea, Rwanda and defending champions Uganda, who have won the tournament a record 13 times.[5] Eritrea were Sudan's first assignment of their campaign, and easily saw them off with a 3–0 rout through first-half goals from Salah Ibrahim, who scored a brace, and Muhannad El Tahir. Megweya Omer pulled one back for Eritrea in the 73rd minute, but his goal was ruled offside.[12] Sudan sealed their place in the quarter-finals in their second match of the group stage, where they beat Rwanda with a solitary goal in the 29th minute from Salah Ibrahim, which made him the tournament's top scorer.[13] However, the Falcons of Jediane fell in their last match of the group stage, after being beaten 1–0 by Uganda thanks to a goal from Tusker's Khalid Aucho in the 58th minute.[14]
Having finished in second place in Group C, Sudan booked a quarter-final match against Group A runners-up Ethiopia. Saladin Bargecho made the task at hand easier for Sudan, when he put the ball into his own net from a corner in the 22nd minute. Salah Ibrahim's fourth strike of the tournament in the 69th minute sealed the win for Sudan and a place in the semi-finals against 2012 Africa Cup of Nations champions Zambia.[15]
Sudan's semi-final proved to be a very tough task, and 30 minutes of extra time were needed to determine the winner of the match. Ronald Kampamba gave Chipolopolo the lead in the 113th minute and the match seemed to have been tipped in Zambia's favour, but incredibly Miaaz Abdelrahim salvaged the game for Sudan with an equaliser just 2 minutes to the end of the match. Just when it seemed that a penalty shoot-out was in the offing, Salah Ibrahim stepped up for the fifth time to send Sudan to the final in dramatic fashion, after slotting the ball past goalkeeper Toaster Nsabata into the net just seconds to the final whistle.[16]
Kenya were in control of possession for most of the match, and in the 35th minute skipper Allan Wanga gave the hosts the lead with a thundering header past goalkeeper Abdel Rahman Ali Ibrahim from a David Owino cross. The game remained open for the remainder of the first half and the beginning of the second half, but Wanga stepped forward again to seal the win for the Harambee Stars. In the 69th minute, Wanga beat El Tahir El Hag to get on the end of a low cross from his A.F.C. Leopards teammate James Situma and slot it into the far post.
