CECAFA
Kenya Police Bullets and CBE Women FC storm to CAF Women Champions League Qualifiers Finals
In a thrilling CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA Zonal Qualifiers semifinals, Kenya’s Police Bullets FC overcame Tanzania Women League champions Simba Queens FC 3-2 while hosts, Ethiopia’s CBE Women FC marched on with a 2-1 win over Uganda’s Kawempe Muslim FC on 26th August, 2024.
After registering a barren draw against South Sudan’s Yei Jont Stars, a slim 1 nil win over Rayon Sports Women FC and a loss to CBE Women FC in their Group A matches, Police Bullets FC came all guns blazing to silence Simba Queens.
Bullets were first to get on the score sheet on the 29th minute when Lucy Jira latched on a ball mishandled by Caroline Rufa, Simba Queens goalie. Minutes to half time, Bullets FC lead would be cut by Corazon Aquino close range tap from Elizabeth Wambui cross that had been parried to play by Bullets keeper Annedy Kundu.
Coming from half time a determined Simba took the lead with Corazon skillfully controlling the ball and launching a half volley into the net. The lead didnt last long as it only took 5 minutes for Police Bullets to level matters, this time Diana Wacera sending in a stinging header from a freekick.
Police Bullets marched on, posing threats to the Simba side and on the 82nd minute their efforts paid off, this time Rebecca Akoth beating her marker to round off Simba goalie and slot the ball into an empty net sending Police Bullets team and technical bench into jubilation.
Police Bullets held on their nerves with solid defending to secure a win and bag their maiden Finals ticket.
Later afternoon hosts CBE Women FC squared it off with Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC for a hard fought 2-1 win. CBE started pushing for an early goal but a stubborn Kawempe put the hosts at bay. Its only deep into half time at the 44th minute that CBE’s Mesay Temsegen found back of the net, capitalizing on a rebound to ease the hosts sides frustration.
Coming from half time home side cheers of believe could be heard as both sides kept knocking. However, it didnt take long as Shadia Nabirye capitalized on the Ethiopian side defense melee to guide the ball into the net and level matters.
Both sides produced thrilling performances but couldnt find the net with the match coming to the last minutes. Four minutes to end of play, and what appeared to be a misjudgement by Kawempe goalie, a long range effort by Emedet Asfaw bounced inside the box, straight into the net.
CBE women FC held on their nerves to maintain the lead and eventually march to their 3rd finals since inception of the Zonal Qualifiers in 2021.
CBE Women FC will now face Kenya’s Police Bullets on 29th August, in the CAF Womens Champions League Qualifiers for a coveted ticket to represent CECAFA region at the continental CAF Women’s Champions League 2024.
Simba Queens will earlier in the day take on Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC for a 3rd place play off.
The Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) has officially opened the bidding process for their competitions for the 2025 calendar.
The bidding process was officially opened by CECAFA on February 4th with the deadline of submission being February 21st, 2025.
Yusuf Mossi, the CECAFA Competitions Director made it clear in the document that any Member Association that will be interested in hosting any tournament must meet all requirements in the bidding process.
“In order to be considered to host any of the competitions, kindly compete the attached bid documents clearly indicating which competition and submit to CECAFA by February 21st, 2025,” said part of the document.
The bid includes expression of interest, host bid questionnaire and the Budget document. CECAFA will announce the host Member Associations of the various competitions on March 3rd, 2025.
The seven tournaments lined up for the 2025 calendar include; CECAFA Beach Soccer Championship to take place in Kilifi County in Kenya, CECAFA Senior Women’s Challenge Cup, CECAFA Senior men’s Challenge Cup, Dar Port Kagame Cup in Tanzania, CAF Women’s Champions League qualifiers, CECAFA U-17 Boys Championship and CAF African Schools Football Championship.
The CECAFA Ordinary Assembly has approved seven tournaments to be staged by the Zone in the 2025 calendar.
During the non-elective Ordinary General Assembly held at the Imperial Plaza Hotel in Juba, South Sudan on Wednesday, the delegates approved the five competitions.
Auka John Gecheo who presented the competitions report on behalf of the chairman of the Committee Isayas Jira Bosho, pointed out that the tournaments have been planned after considering the different CAF and FIFA tournaments on the International calendar.
The Zonal body agreed to have the inaugural CECAFA Beach Soccer Competition in Kenya , while the CECAFA Senior Women’s Challenge and the CECAFA Senior Men’s Challenge Cup have also been lined up.
The Dar Port Kagame Cup 2025 will be expected to take place August 31st to September 14th, and the CAF Women’s Champions League, CECAFA qualifiers. The Member Association the hosts the CECAFA U-17 Boys Championship will also be expected to host the CAF African Schools Football Championship qualifiers.
However, Member Associations have been asked to apply to host any of the tournaments that have been planned to run in the 2025 calendar.
Ethiopia’s U-20 side defeated Djibouti 2-0 in an international friendly match played at the Abebe Bikila Stadium on Monday.
The two teams used the match to prepare ahead of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) U-20 CECAFA qualifiers slated for October 6-20th in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Nathael Solomon gave the hosts the lead after 43 minutes, and Degfie Alemu made it 2-0 three minutes into the second half.
The Djibouti team tried to push ahead to find some goal but failed to beat the Ethiopian defending line.
The Zonal qualifiers will kick start with a Group A match between Sudan and Djibouti at the Azam Complex, while hosts Tanzania will battle Kenya in a Group A match at the KMC Stadium the same day.
The 2022 runners-up South Sudan will open their Group B campaign against Burundi at the KMC Stadium, while reigning champions Uganda face Ethiopia in a match to be played at the Azam Complex all on October 7th. Tanzania will return to action on October 8th against Djibouti, the same day Sudan face Rwanda.
Nine teams will participate in the tournament with the best two teams qualifying to represent the Zone at the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations U-20 2025.
Group A: Tanzania, Sudan, Rwanda, Djibouti, Kenya
Group B: Uganda, South Sudan, Burundi, Ethiopia
A VAR workshop organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for members in the CECAFA Zone has today started in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Wallace Karia, the CECAFA President today officially opened the workshop taking place at the Peacock Hotel.
“CAF is carrying out VAR training for all Zones now and this a very good development. This training is very timely for our Zone and we thank CAF for making this happen,” added Karia.
CAF Director of Referee Department Desire Noumandiez Doue is facilitating the workshop which has attracted members from 11 countries including Libya and ends on October 5th, 2024.
Ali Ahmed, the CECAFA Referees Manager called upon the participants to make good use of the workshop because CAF is determined to have as many referees as possible able to handle the VAR system.
The participants attending the workshop are coming from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, Djibouti, South Sudan, Sudan, Ethiopia, Libya and hosts Tanzania.
-
CECAFA10 years agoBotswana beats Kenya in African Youth Championships
-
Top stories5 years agoWe need to win the first match against Coronavirus – Infantino
-
CAF African Nations Championship5 months agoAfrican Nations Championship 2025 dates announced
-
NEWS4 years agoFIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers: Eritrea ejects Djibouti 6-1 on aggregate
-
CECAFA6 years agoCecafa mourns former chairman Tesfaye Ghebreyesus
-
CECAFA U-18 Boys Championship1 year agoSemi-final stage set for CECAFA U-18 Championship 2023
-
NEWS4 years agoYoung Africans SC face Nyasa Big Bullets in CECAFA Kagame Cup kick-off
-
CAF5 years agoCAF approves dates for 2020 Total African Nations Championship in Cameroon