Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) forward Emush Daniel Dandamo has scooped the top scorer’s Award at the just concluded 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA qualifiers.

Emush who helped CBE finish third netted a record six goals in the Zonal qualifiers in Kigali, Rwanda.

She received the Award from Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) Second Vice President in-charge of Technical Development, Richard Mugisha.

Agnes Nabukenya who captained Kawempe Muslim Ladies to lift the Cup after a 1-0 win against Kenya Police Bullets FC was voted Best Player of the tournament, and her teammate Saidah Namwanje voted Best Goalkeeper.

Yei Joint Stars FC from South Sudan and finished fourth in the tournament picked the Fair Play Award.

Kawempe Muslim Ladies are the winners of the CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA 2026 qualifiers.

The Ugandan reigning women’s champions defeated Kenya Police Bullets 1-0 in a hard fought final played at the Kigali Pele Stadium on Monday evening.

After several missed scoring opportunities in a match they dominated, Kawempe Muslim Ladies scored in the 100^th minute through Agnes Nabukenya.

The match had ended goalless after the allotted 90 minutes, but the Ugandan team struck in the 10^th minute of the first half of added time.

The towering forward made no mistake finishing from close range past Kenya Police Bullets’ goalkeeper Anndy Kundu.

Kenya Police Bullets, the 2024 runners-up tried to fight back to level matters and take the match to penalty shoot-outs, but failed.

It was all celebration for the Ugandan team after the final whistle. “I thank the players for the hard work and finally winning this trophy,” said a happy Kawempe Muslim Ladies head coach Ayub Khalifa Kiyingi after the final.

Nabukenya, the team captain and scorer of the lone goal praised her teammates for the hard work which saw them win all their four matches in the tournament.

In the play-off match Commercial Bank of Ethiopia defeated Yei Joint Stars FC (South Sudan) 6-1.

Etsegenet Girma gave the Ethiopian side the lead after 34 minutes, but Moureen Nankinga was quick to level matters for Yei Joint Stars three minutes later. Beshadu Tadese scored late to give CBE a 2-1 lead going into the break.

After recess Yei Joint Stars FC tried to push forward, but failed to find the goals. CBE netted more goals through Mahelet Bekel, Emush Dandamo, Mihiret Ayele and Rediet Matios to win 6-1.

The final of the CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA qualifiers 2026 takes center stage on Monday at the Kigali Pele Stadium.

Kawempe Muslim Ladies from Uganda will battle Kenya Police Bullets FC in the final expected to be a thriller.

But before the final 2024 winners Commercial Bank of Ethiopia will face surprise package Yei Joint Stars FC in a play-off to decide which team takes third place.

Ayub Khalifa Kiyingi, the Kawempe Muslim Ladies coach says they will make some tactical adjustments going into the final because they know what to expect. “Facing the Kenyan team will not be easy, but we know what to do in that match. My players are motivated and we are ready to go,” added Kiyingi.

The Uganda team that has won all it’s three matches in the tournament scoring 12 goals and conceding none will look to their leading scorers Agnes Nabukenya (4 goals) and Jovia Nakagolo (3 goals) to pounce get the goals where it matters most.

All eyes will be on Kenya Police Bullets and the tournament’s leading scorer with five goals Martha Amunyolete Emedot who is expected to lead her team in an attempt to win their first regional trophy.

The Kenya Police Bullets head coach David Bujego Rangon made it clear that they came to win all their four matches in the tournament. “We shall have some players who had been injured, but will return for the final and we shall go out to try and win the match,” added the coach.

To reach the final Kawempe Muslim Ladies stopped Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) 1-0, humbled FC Ujeco (Djibouti) 8-0, before seeing off CBE again 3-0 at the semi-final stage. On their part Kenya Police Bullets defeated Simba Queens (Tanzania) 2-1, stopped Top Girls Academy (Burundi) and ejected Yei Joint Stars FC (South Sudan) 5-0 at the knock out stage.

The champions will represent CECAFA at the CAF Women’s Champions League 2026 finals. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is yet to announce the hosts of the event.

Previously the Zone has been represented by Vihiga Queens (Kenya, 2021), Simba Queens (Tanzania, 2022), JKT Queens (Tanzania, 2023), Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (Ethiopia, 2024), and JKT Queens (Tanzania, 2025)

The President of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA), Paulos Weldehaimanot Andemariam has reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening the development of women referees across the CECAFA Zone.

Andemariam said this while meeting referees and match instructors officiating at the on-going CAF Women’s Champions League Zonal qualifier at the Gorilla Gold Hotel in Kigali, Rwanda on Sunday.

He commended the referees for the professionalism, teamwork and commitment they have demonstrated throughout the competition. The CECAFA President encouraged the female referees to remain ambitious and continue working towards the highest levels of the game, including becoming FIFA referees and earning appointments at major continental competitions.

He informed the officials that CECAFA has already initiated discussions with CAF aimed at strengthening the resources and development support available to CECAFA Member Associations. Andemariam further assured them that CECAFA will continue pursuing new sponsors and strategic partners to create more opportunities for women across the game. He also announced that CECAFA intends to start a dedicated women referees’ VAR development course in 2027.

Josephine Wanjiku, a referee from Kenya who also officiated at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2026 thanked the CECAFA President for the visit, and requested for a women’s only VAR course to equip them better.

Jean Sseninde, the CECAFA Interim Executive Director Jean Sseninde, reiterated the Secretariat’s commitment to implementing the strategic direction of the CECAFA leadership and continuing to create an enabling environment for women to progress across technical and administrative areas of football.