The wait is finally over as the CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA qualifiers will kick-off on Friday at the Kigali Pele Stadium in Rwanda.

South Sudan’s Yei Joint Stars FC who will be making their sixth appearance in the competition will open the campaign in the first Group A match against Denden FC from Eritrea.

Sony Harriet, the Yei Joint Stars FC coach said they are not here just to participate, but to compete.

“We have gained a lot of experience after playing in the last five editions and this time we want to make it out of the group,” added the coach during a press conference held at the Kigali Pele Stadium on Thursday.

She made it clear that they will not underrate any opponent at the tournament. Team captain Mary Anger said the players are all excited to be back in the competition and determined to perform better.

Rezene Gebregiogis, the Denden FC coach also made it clear that after losing all their matches in their first appearance last year, they are determined to perform better this year. “We got the exposure last year, and we are now well prepared and know what to expect,” added Gebregiogis.

The second Group A match will see last year’s runners-up Rayon Sports WFC (Rwanda) take on Mafunzo WFC from Zanzibar.

Claude Rwaka, the Rayon Sports WFC head coach says they are very happy to be playing at home in-front of their fans. “We have prepared well and the team is ready to compete well,” added Rwaka.

Rayon Sports WFC captain Andersen Uwase also called upon their fans to come and motivate them as they try to win the Zonal qualifiers.

The Mafunzo WFC captain Cynthia Shilwatso made it clear that although they respect their opponents, they have prepared well and are ready for the tournament. “We have prepared well and are determined to get till the later stage of the tournament,” added the captain.

Action will shift to Group B on Saturday as 2024 champions Commercial Bank of Ethiopia take on FC Ujeco (Djibouti), while Simba Queens (Tanzania) who lifted the trophy in 2022 take on Top Girls Academy from Burundi.

The champion will represent the CECAFA Zone at the CAF Women’s Champions League 2026.

Group A: Rayon Sport WFC, Yei Joint Star FC, Mafunzo SC, Denden FC

Group B: CBE FC, Kawempe Muslim Ladies, FC Ujeco

Group C: Simba Queens, Kenya Police Bullets FC, Top Girls Academy FC

Seventeen referees and assistant referees are undergoing preparations ahead of the CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA qualifiers 2026.

Rwanda will host the tournament from August 21-31^st in the capital Kigali with 10 teams taking part.

Head of refereeing for the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA), Ali Ahmed told Cecafaonline.com that all the 16 female referees are responding well to the preparations that are in class and also physical.

“We are excited about the level of fitness among most of the referees and assistants invited and we are confident they will be at their best while handling the matches,” added Ahmed.

Fresh from officiating at the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, two referees Aline Umutoni (Rwanda) and Kenya’s Josephine Wanjiku will join the other 14 referees to handle the Zonal qualifier. The tournament will have eight referees and nine assistant referees.

The referees and assistant referees underwent a workshop at the Gorillas Golf Hotel, and also had a physical exercise at the Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) ground on Wednesday.

Hone team Rayon Sport WFC, Yei Joint Star FC (South Sudan), Mafunzo SC (Zanzibar), Denden FC (Eritrea), CBE FC (Ethiopia), Kawempe Muslim Ladies (Uganda), FC Ujeco (Djibouti), Simba Queens (Tanzania), Kenya Police Bullets FC (Kenya), and Top Girls Academy FC from Burundi are the ten teams taking part in the Zonal qualifiers.

The champion will represent the CECAFA Zone at the CAF Women’s Champions League 2026.

Referees

Henriette Buyukenya, Aline Umutoni, Regine Mukayoranga (Rwanda), Diana Murungi, Immaculate Ongiera (Uganda), Joseyline Nsabimana, Anitha Niyokindi (Burundi), Josephine Wanjiku, Virgina Wangui (Kenya), Deka Muse (Djibouti), Mary Sulaimani, Zawadi Yusuf (Tanzania), Yordanos Mulgeta, Woinshet Abera (Ethiopia), Arsema Haile (Eritrea), Emmanuella Ako, Stella Sebit (South Sudan)  

Eritrea’s Denden FC have arrived ahead of the CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA qualifiers 2026.

The Denden FC team arrived at the Kigali International Airport Rwanda on Tuesday morning.

Denden FC will be making their second appearance in the qualifiers after failing to make it through the group stage last year in Nairobi, Kenya.

Ten teams will tussle it out in the qualifiers from August 21-31^st. Matches will be played at the Kigali Pele Stadium, and the FERWAFA Technical Center ground.

Denden FC handled by Rezene Gebregiorgis Demoz are placed in Group A alongside Rayon Sport WFC (Rwanda), Yei Joint Star FC (South Sudan) and Zanzibar’s Mafunzo SC.

The top two teams from Group A, together with the group leaders in Group B and C will qualify for the semi-final stage. The winner Group B will face the runner-up Group A, while the winner Group A battles winner Group C at the semi-finals.

The champion will represent the CECAFA Zone at the CAF Women’s Champions League 2026.

Group A: Rayon Sport WFC, Yei Joint Star FC, Mafunzo SC, Denden FC

Group B: CBE FC, Kawempe Muslim Ladies, FC Ujeco

Group C: Simba Queens, Kenya Police Bullets FC, Top Girls Academy FC

South Sudan giants Yei Joint Stars will open their campaign against Denden FC (Eritrea) as the CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA qualifiers 2026 kicks off on August 21^st.

The opening Group A match will take place at the Kigali Pele Stadium as Yei Joint Stars make their sixth appearance in the regional qualifiers.

According to the fixtures the second Group A match game between Rayon Sport WFC (Rwanda) and Mafunzo SC from Zanzibar will take place at the same venue.

Action will shift to Group B on August 22 with 2024 winners Commercial Bank of Ethiopia facing FC Ujeco (Djibouti), and later Simba Queens (Tanzania) up against Tops Girls Academy from Burundi in a Group C tie.

The top two teams from Group A, together with the group leaders in Group B and C will qualify for the semi-final stage.

The winner Group B will face the runner-up Group A, while the winner Group A battles winner Group C at the semi-finals.

The champion to be decided o August 31^st will represent the CECAFA Zone at the CAF Women’s Champions League 2026.

Group A: Rayon Sport WFC, Yei Joint Star FC, Mafunzo SC, Denden FC

Group B: CBE FC, Kawempe Muslim Ladies, FC Ujeco

Group C: Simba Queens, Kenya Police Bullets FC, Top Girls Academy FC