Hosts Ethiopia have ejected Uganda Crested Cranes 5-4 on penalty shootouts in the first round of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 qualifiers.

After losing the first leg 2-0, the Ethiopian team battled to score two goals against Uganda at the Abebe Bikila Stadium in Addis Ababa on Wednesday.

Aregash Kalsa netted the opening goal for the hosts after 66 minutes, moments after Uganda’s forward Fazila Ikwaput had been sent-off.

Earlier Uganda Crested Cranes also had Zaina Namuleme miss a clear cut opportunity, but missed by inches. The hosts continued to attack in numbers, but the Crested Cranes defenders held on strong.

Seven minutes into added time Etsegenet Girma made it 2-0 sending the home fans into jubilations.

During penalty shootouts Ethiopia’s Tarikwa Debiso had her effort saved, while Uganda’s Phiona Nabbumba and Resty Kobusobozi missed.

Ethiopia will now face the winner between Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea in the second round of the qualifiers.

In matches played on Tuesday night South Sudan suffered a 3-0 defeat away to Algeria to drop out on an 8-0 goal aggregate. Rwanda held hosts Egypt to a 2-2 draw, but failed to make it to the next round after losing the first leg 1-0 in Kigali.

In other matches to be played later tonight involving teams from the CECAFA Zone Burundi will face Burkina Faso, Djibouti battle Togo, while Kenya take on Tunisia in Tunis.

Uganda Crested Cranes have defeated Ethiopia 2-0 in the first leg round one clash of the in the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 qualifiers.

After a scrappy first half with the two teams not creating decent scoring chances, the teams produced a more entertaining display after recess at the Hamz Stadium Nakivubo.

The hosts scored late through Zainah Namuleme and Fazilah Ikwaput.

Loza Abera, Ethiopia’s captain plying her trade in the USA came close to scoring midway the second half, but her effort was stopped by Uganda’s goalkeeper Ruth Aturo.

As the match seemed destined for a draw Uganda earned a free kick outside the box. Namuleme made no mistake curling in the free kick past the defenders and the Ethiopian goalkeeper Tarikwa Bergena.

In the third minute of added time Ikwaput lso got her name on the score sheet from close range to ensure Uganda collected a 2-0 win.

In the other matches involving teams from the CECAFA Zone Rwanda suffered a 1-0 defeat to Egypt in Kigali, while hosts Kenya and Tunisia settled for a goalless draw. Later Djibouti will face Togo.

The head coach of Tanzania’s women’s team has said he was impressed with his team’s win against Equatorial Guinea in the first leg first round of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 qualifiers.

Twiga Stars defeated Equatorial Guinea 3-1 in the first leg match played on Thursday at the Azam Stadium.

Bakari Shime made it clear that although his team should have won by a bigger margin, he was impressed at the level they responded after going a goal down in the first half.

“The team showed a lot of hunger and team work has they searched for goals. It is a good first leg result that we must ride on and go get another good result in the return leg,” added Shime.

Getruede Engueme gave the visitors the lead after 42 minutes to silence the home fans. But Twiga Stars responded positively to score three second half goals though Stumai Abdallah, Enekia Kasonga and Diana Msewa.

Action in the WAFCON 2026 qualifiers continues on Friday with four teams from CECAFA Zone taking to the field. Uganda will host Ethiopia, while Djibouti take on Togo.

Rwanda will also face Egypt at the Kigali Pele Stadium, and Kenya play host to Tunisia. On Sunday Burudi will battle Burkina Faso.

Fixture

Feb 21

Uganda vs Ethiopia

Djibouti vs Togo

Rwanda vs Egypt

Kenya vs Tunisia

Feb 23

Burundi vs Burkina Faso

Hosts South Sudan have suffered a 5-0 defeat to Algeria in the first leg first round of the CAF TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 qualifiers.

Laura Carine Taleb gave the visitors the lead after 20 minutes at the Juba National Stadium after finishing off with a fine header.

South Sudan captained by the experienced Amy Lasu Luaya Lasu tried to fight back to try and level matters, but failed to penetrate the Algerian defending line.

Algeria made it 2-0 after 43 minutes when Lea Soizic Abdoub placed the ball past South Sudan’s goalkeeper Nawal Isaac Majok.

In the second half the visitors were awarded a penalty after 47 minutes, but skipper Guellati Sofia failed to convert from the spot. But the Algerians were hungry for more goals and made it 3-0 two minutes later when Naima Bouhani Ben scored.

After 56 minutes Ghouthia Habiba converted from the spot to make it 4-0. South Sudan defender Dorka Gerald Lokeri got her name on the score sheet with an own goal after 86 minutes when she headed in a well taken Quassila Alduache free-kick.

Seven more teams from the CECAFA Zone will be in action in the first leg of the WAFCON qualifiers with Tanzania taking to the field tomorrow against Equatorial Guinea in Dar es Salaam.

On Friday Uganda Crested Cranes will host Ethiopia, while Djibouti battle Togo, and Rwanda take on Egypt in Kigali. Burundi will take on Burkina Faso on February 23^rd, 2025.

The 2026 WAFCON will be hosted by Morocco.