Tanzania’s Simba Queens FC have been drawn to face Kenya Police Bullets FC in the CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA qualifiers 2026.

The official draw was conducted on Thursday at the Amahoro Stadium Conference Hall in Kigali, Rwanda.

CECAFA Head of Marketing and Communication, Andrew Jackson Oryada conducted the draw, while former Rwandan International Gloria Sofia Nibagwire.

The qualifiers that will feature 10 teams will take place August 21-31^st in Kigali. Matches will be played at the Kigali Pele Stadium, and the FERWAFA Techinal Center ground.

Simba Queens, the 2022 Zonal champions were placed in Group C together with the Kenyan Women’s Champions and Burundi’s Top Girls Academy.

The home side Rayon Sport WFC are placed in Group A together with Yei Joint Star FC (South Sudan), Mafunzo SC (Zanzibar) and Eritrea’s Denden FC.

Commercial Bank of Ethiopia who have reached two finals before and lifted the 2024 title are in Group B alongside Kawempe Muslim Ladies (Uganda) and Djibouti’s FC Ujeco

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

Sudan’s Al Hilal SC and Rayon Sport FC have maintained a 100% winning run in Group C at the on-going CECAFA Kagame Cup.

Al Hilal who stopped Tusker FC 2-0 in their opening match, registered a 4-0 victory against Zanzibar champions KVZ FC in a match played at the Pele Kigali Stadium on Wednesday.

Skipper Abdelhman Mohamed Yousif gave Al Hilal the lead after only two minutes whe he shot past KVZ FC goalkeeper Bashir Muslim Darwesh.

KVZ FC tried to play a highly defensive approach, but failed to contain the Sudan team. Ahmed M’bareck made it 2-0 for Al Hilal SC netting after 29 minutes.

Babe Diarra also had a shot for KVZ that missed by inches after 40 minutes. After recess substitutes Samura Ansumana and Akire Temple Taiwo also got their names on the score sheet.

Guy Bukasa Misakabu, the Al Hilal SC head coach said that he is impressed with the way his team attacked in numbers and managed to score four goals against a highly defensive side. “This is the pre-season and we are trying out several things,” added the Al Hilal coach.

In the second match home side Rayon Sport FC edged Tusker FC (Kenya) 1-0 with Atisso Kodjo scoring the lone goal. The group will be decided on August 1^st when Rayon Sport FC face table leaders Al Hilal SC.

On Thursday two Group A matches will be played. Table leaders Vipers SC (Uganda) will face APR FC (Rwanda), while Gor Mahia FC (Kenya) take on Garde Republicaine FC.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has requested to host the CECAFA Challenge Cup 2027.

Paulous Weldehaimanot Andermariam, President of the President of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) has reveled that they are in talks with Kenya about the Challenge Cup.

“Kenya has already requested us to host the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup which they also want to use to launch one of their new Stadiums,” says Andermariam.

He made it clear that they are working hard to ensure that the Senior Challenge Cup returns because it is the biggest tournament in the Zone for national teams. “We need to return back the Senior Challenge Cup and also find sponsors,” added the CECAFA President.

Andermariam explained that it has been difficult to organize the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup in the past years because of congested local and International calendars.

The last CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup was held in Uganda where the hosts defeated Eritrea in the final.

The CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup is Africa’s oldest regional football tournament, organized by CECAFA for national teams in East and Central Africa. It evolved from the Gossage Cup (1926) and Challenge Cup (1967) before becoming the modern CECAFA Kagame Cup Cup in 2002.

The 2025 winners Singida Black Stars FC have picked their first win at the on-going CECAFA Kagame Cup 2026.

After losing their opening Group B match 2-0 to Jamus SC (South Sudan), the Tanzanian side defeated Mogadishu City Club 4-1 in a match played on Tuesday at the Kigali Pele Stadium.

Naby Bangoura gave the Somali Premier League side the lead after 10 minutes when he beat Singida Black Stars FC goalkeeper Yona Amosi.

But Henry David leveled matters for Singida Black Stars after only three minutes. The Tanzania side continued to attack in numbers and soon made it 2-1 after 16 minutes with Mathew Tegisi scoring from close range.

Mogadishu City Club pushed forward in such of more goals, but failed to break the Singida Black Stars defending line. Henry David netted his second goal of the day after 44 minutes to increase Singida Black Stars’ lead to 3-1.

In the second half Mathew Tegisi also scored his second goal after 53 minutes to increase Singida Black Stars lead.

Ahmed Pipino, the Singida Black Stars captain said they are happy to pick a win ahead of their next group match against Simba SC.

In the second match Simba SC were held to a goalless draw by Jamus SC. The draw means the South Sudan side remain top of Group B with 4 points.

The two deciding matches of Group B will be played on July 31^st with Singida Black Stars facing Simba SC in an all Tanzanian affair, while Jamus SC battles Mogadishu City Club.