Hosts Tanzania and Burundi have registered wins on Day 1 of the 2025 CECAFA Senior Women’s Championship.

Twiga Stars who are preparing for the TotalEnergies CAf Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) saw off South Sudan 4-0, while Burundi shocked reigning champions Uganda 1-0.

Diana Lucas gave Twiga Stars the lead after 9 minutes at the Azam Complex. The South Sudan team tried to play a highly defensive approach, but failed to stop the fast attacking Tanzanians.

Opah Clement Tukumbuke netted a brace, while Saudi Arabia based forward Cara Luvanga also got her name on the score sheet.

Bakari Shime, the Tanzanian coach praised his team for the hard work which saw them register a big win in their opening match. “Yes we created many scoring opportunities, but we played with high intensity and we shall try to keep improving in every match,” he added.

In an earlier match Burundi scored a second half goal to shock the reigning champions Uganda.

After a goalless first half with Uganda Crested Cranes creating several scoring opportunities, Burundi’s Esperance Habonimana netted from a free kick after 75 minutes.

Uganda’s goalkeeper mistimed the long back which settled at the back of the net.

Tanzania now lead the log with 3 points and four goals scored, while Burundi are second.

Action returns on Sunday with Burundi facing Kenya, while South Sudan take on Uganda.

Table standing

                      P    W     D      L     GF    GA   GD   Pts

Tanzania       1      1      0      0      4       0     4       3

Burundi          1      1     0       0     1       0      1      3    

Kenya            0      0      0      0      0       0      0      0

Uganda          1      0      0     1      0       1     -1      0

South Sudan  1     0      0      1      0       4     -4      0

The CECAFA Senior Women’s Championship 2025 finally kicks off this afternoon with Burundi facing reigning champions Uganda Crested Cranes at the Azam Complex in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Olivier Alian Niyungeko, Burundi’s head coach told Cecafaonline that although they expect a very tough encounter against Uganda, his team is well prepared.

“This is a kind of tournament where every match is very important and we want to make a good start,” says Niyungeko who will miss the services of Rah Roy Nzoyikorera who has been battling a fever since the team arrived in Tanzania.

Sheryl Botes Ulanda, Uganda Crested Cranes head coach also made it clear that what is important will be to have a good start in the tournament. “We need to approach every match strongly and starting with a win will give us a good start,” added Ulanda.

In their last meeting at the 2022 CECAFA Senior Women’s Championship Uganda defeated Burundi 4-1 in the group stage and 3-1 in the final played at the FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru.

The second match of the day will see South Sudan face a tough test against the Twiga Stars of Tanzania. Fresh from recording two wins against DR Congo international friendly matches, coach Bakari Shime will expect some of his key forwards like Opa Clement Tukumbuke and Clara Cleitus Luvanga to be at their best to find the goals.

“We shall not underrate any team in this tournament,” says Shime. South Sudan who will reply on majority of the Yei Joint Stars players will also be hoping to make a good start.

The regional competition which has attracted five teams will be played on a round robin basis with all the teams playing four matches.

“We have had to push the kick-off by a day as the South Sudan team because of some challenges can only arrive on Wednesday,” says Yusuf Mossi, the Competitions Director of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA).

“The competition with help our representatives to the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, Tanzania prepare better and the other teams to get more exposure,” says the CECAFA Competitions Director Yussuf Mossi.

The CECAFA Senior Women’s Championship will take place June 12-22^nd, 2025 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Yusuf Mossi, the Competitions Director of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) says it was decided that the competition takes place before the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) next month.

“The competition with help our representatives to the WAFCON Tanzania prepare better and the other teams also prepare for the WAFCON 2026 qualifiers which resume in October this year,” added Mossi.

He made it clear that already hosts Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi and South Sudan have confirmed participation, while more teams are expected to confirm in the next few days.

After the Women’s Senior Championship, the inaugural CECAFA Beach Soccer Championship will take place July 7-12^th in Mombasa, Kenya.

The other competitions that CECAFA will organize in 2025 include; the CAF Women’s Club Champions League CECAFA qualifiers (Tanzania), Dar Port Kagame Cup (Tanzania), AFCON U-17 CECAFA qualifiers (Ethiopia) and the CAF African Schools Football Championship CECAFA qualifiers.

The CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup and the CECAFA U-20 Women’s Championship will not be held this year.

2025 calendar

CECAFA Senior Women’s Championship (June 12-22, Tanzania)

CECAFA Beach Soccer Championship (July 7-12^th, Kenya)

CAF Women’s Clubs Champions League CECAFA Qualifiers (September 3-19^th, Tanzania)

Dar Port Kagame Cup 2025 (September 13- 27, Tanzania) AFCON U-17 CECAFA Qualifiers 2026 (November 15-30^th, Ethiopia)

African Schools Football Championship CECAFA Qualifiers (December 1-5^th)

Uganda Crested Cranes have defeated Burundi 3-1 in the final of the  CECAFA Senior Women’s Championship 2022.

Sandra Nabweteme netted a brace, while Fazila Ikwaput also got her name on the score sheet to guide Uganda to victory at the FUFA technical Centre, Njeru on Saturday.

Nabweteme netted the opening goal after only two minutes, while Ikwaput doubled the lead after 43 minutes.

But after recess the Burundi team made some changes and pressed the Uganda Crested Cranes before they pulled one goal back. Joelle Bukuru netted Burundi’s goal after 49th minutes with a hard long shot that beat Uganda’s goalkeeper Daisy Nakaziro.

Burundi continued to push forward, but a defensive mix-up gave Nabweteme a chance to score her second goal of the day to take her goal tally to five.

“This is a very sweet victory which also gives us motivation ahead of the TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco next month,” said Uganda coach George William Lutalo.

In an earlier match Ethiopia defeated Tanzania 2-1 in a play-off match to finish third. Taddese Bizuayehu and Lema Turis scored for Ethiopia, while Opa Clement Tukumbuke scored for Tanzania.

CECAFA and Tanzania Football Federation President, Wallace Karia together with CAF Exco Member and Federation of Uganda Football Associations President, Moses Hassim Magogo attended the final.

Uganda’s Speaker of Parliament Hon. Anita Among was the guest of honour.

Awards

Best Player – Fazila Ikwpaut (Uganda)

Best Goalkeepr – Daisy Nakaziro (Uganda)

Top Scorer – Opa Clement Tukumbuke (Tanzania)

Fair Play Award – Tanzania