Tanzania’s Simba Queens FC have been draw 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

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.

Uganda’s Vipers SC have edged Gor Mahia 1-0 in a Group A match at the on-going CECAFA Kagame Cup.

The win at the Kigali Pele Stadium on Monday saw Vipers SC move closer to qualification for the semi final stage after they picked a second straight victory.

After dominating play against the Kenya Premier League reigning champions, Vipers SC delivered a late killer punch with Gusto Mulongo heading in in added time to ensure they collected maximum points.

Ashraf Mandela delivered a neat pass that the Gor Mahia SC defenders failed to clear out of danger, only for substitute Mulongo to nod the ball past Gor Mahia’s goalkeeper Humphrey Katasi Simiyu.

Denis Lavagne, the Vipers SC coach said he was hapy with the win against a strong Gor Mahia FC side. “Although we scored late it puts us in a good position as we now focus on the last group match against APR FC,” added Lavagne.

In the second Group A match APR FC defeated Garde Republicaine (Djibouti) 3-1.

Skipper Quattara Djibril netted a brace, while Mamadou Traore also got his name on the score sheet for APR FC all in the first half. The Djibouti Premier League side pulled a goal back after 87 minutes with Maarouf Abass scoring.

Vipers SC remain top of Group A with 6 points, while Gor Mahia FC are second with 3 points, and ahead of APR FC with a better goal difference.

On Tuesday Mogadishu City Club (Somalia) will face Singida Black Stars FC (Tanzania), while Group B table leaders Jamus SC (South Sudan) take on Simba SC (Tanzania) at the Kigali Pele Stadium.