CECAFA Women’s champions Commercial Bank of Ethiopia WFC will make their debut in the CAF Women’s Champions League on Sunday with a Group B match against Nigeria’s Edo Queens.

The opening Group B match will see reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns face FS Masar (Egypt), and after CBE take to the field at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco.

Heye Gizaw Birhanu, the CBE head coach told Cecafaonline.com that his team is well prepared for the tournament and cannot wait to get started. “We know it will be our first time to play in this tournament, but my players are very motivated to prove a point,” added Birhanu.

The CBE team prepared foor 23 days and also played some friendly matches in Adama City. “We had wanted to play some build-up matches with other teams in the region like Simba Queens of Tanzania, but there was no time since CAf announced the dates for the tournament late,” added the coach.

Senaf Wakuma wo was the team’s top scorer at the Zonal qualifiers recently recovered in time from injury to join the team. The team to be captained by goalkeeper Tarikwa Bergena will however miss the services of Sisay Gebrewahild, last year’s best player in the Ethiopian Women’s Premier League due to injury.

Birhanu also stressed that they are eager to make history in the tournament.

The tournament which runs November 9-23, 2024 in Morocco will see all the eight teams be assured of bagging at least USD 150 000 in prize money.

The winning team will smile away with a cash prize of USD 600 000, the runner-up USD 400 000, and the third placed USD 350 000. The 4^th placed team will take USD 300 000, and the third placed teams in each group USD 200 000 each, while the 4th placed team in each group take USD 150 000 each.

CECAFA representatives Commercial Bank of Ethiopia Women’s team have been drawn to face giants  Mamelodi Sundowns in the same group at the CAF Women’s Champions League to be played in Morocco next month.

During the draw conducted at the Complex Mohamed VI in Salé, Morocco on Friday, Commercial Bank of Ethiopia were placed in in Group alongside Mamelodi Sundwons (South Africa), Totankhamon (Egypt) and Nigeria’s Edo Queens.

The tournament that brings together champions from all the Zones together with the defending champion will take place between November 9-23 in Salé, Morocco.

While the Ethiopian side will be making their debut in the tournament, their opponents Mamelodi Sundowns who have won the title twice in the last three years are also the current holders.

Heye Gizaw Birhanu, the CBE head coach has said although the draw has placed them in a tough group, they will have to prepare and treat every match like a final. “We have no option but to prepare well because we are going to face other champions,” added Birhanu.

The winners will pocket a cash prize of USD 400 000, while the runners-up take home USD 250 000.

Group A: ASFAR (Morocco), Aigles de la Medina (Senegal), TP Mazembe (DR Congo), University of Western Cape (South Africa)

Group B: Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), Totankhamon (Egypt), CBE (Ethiopia), Edo Queens (Nigeria)

Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) Women’s Team have stepped up preparations ahead of the CAF Women’s Champions league finals to take place next month.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced today that the tournament will take place November 9-23, 2024 in Morocco.

Heye Gizaw Birhanu, the CBE head coach who guided them to victory in the CECAFA qualifiers has made it clear that they started preparations three weeks ago and they are getting on well.

“We have stepped up the training because we are aware playing with the other champions from other Zones will not be an easy task. This will be our first time at the tournament, but we are preparing so that we can put up a good show,” added the CBE coach.

Eight (8) Clubs will contest for the top prize with the winners bagging USD 400 000 in prize money, and the runners-up smiling away with USD 250 000.

South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns who have won the title twice in the last three years are the defending champions.

CBE will become the fourth from the CECAFA Zone to play at the CAF Women’s Champions League finals after Vihiga Queens (Kenya), and the two Tanzanian sides Simba Queens and JKT Queens.

Teams for the 2025 CAF Women’s Champions League

Mamelodi Sundowns (Holders, South Africa), ASFAR (Host, Morocco), Aigles de la Medina (WAFU A, Senegal), EDO Queens (WAFU B, Nigeria), University of Western Cape (COSAFA, South Africa), Tutankhamun (UNAF, Egypt), CBE FC (CECAFA, Ethiopia), TP Mazembe (UNIFFAC, DR Congo)

The draw for the CAF Women’s Champions League qualifiers for the Zones will be held on July 24^th, 2024 the CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.

Jean Sseninde, the CECAFA’s Women Football Manager will represent the Zone.

The CECAFA Zonal qualifier for the CAF Women’s Champions League will take place August 17^th to September 4^th, 2024 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Three teams Commercial Bank of Ethiopia WFC, Yei Joint Stars (South Sudan) and Warriors Queens from Zanzibar are the only teams that will be making their fourth straight appearance in the Zonal qualifiers.

“We expect a very competitive competition because generally most teams in the Zone have improved,” says the CECAFA competitions Manager, Yusuf Mossi.

Kenya’s Vihiga Queens WFC lifted the Cup in the first Zonal qualifiers held in Nairobi, while Simba Queens (Tanzania) emerged champions during the second Edition held in Dar es Salaam. JKT Queens, another Tanzanian side lifted the Cup during the third edition of the qualifiers held in Njeru, Uganda.

Teams for the Zonal qualifiers

PVP Buyenzi (Burundi), FAD WFC (Djibouti), CBE WFC (Ethiopia), Kenya Police Bullets WFC (Kenya), Kawempe Muslim Ladies (Uganda), Rayon Sports WFC (Rwanda), Yei Joint Stars (South Sudan), Simba Queens (Tanzania), Warriors Queens (Zanzibar)