South Sudan’s Yei Joint Stars FC are the first team to book a place in the semi-final stage at the on-going CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA qualifiers in Kigali, Rwanda.

Yei Joint Stars scored through Mary Anger Bol after 69 minutes to secure a 1-0 win against Mafunzo Women SC in a Group A match played at the Kigali Pele Stadium on Sunday.

The Zanzibar team created some scoring opportunities through Stella Wilbert Kwiligwa and Jackline Kulusanga, but failed to take them.

Yei Joint Stars capitalized on a good attack after 69 minutes and Bol made no mistake beating Mafunzo goalkeeper Chelsea Ngole.

After winning their opening match 3-0 against Denden FC (Eritrea), the South Sudan team now top Group A with 6 points and qualify for the semi finals before they play Rayon Sports WFC.

Yei Joint Stars can finish as top team in Group A or the best second placed team from any of the three teams. Any team which finishes with six points from Group B and C will top the respective groups, leaving Yei Joint Stars to finish as second best placed team in all groups if they suffer defeat in their last group match.

Sony Harriet, the Yei Joints Stars coach said she was happy that he team has booked a place in the semi final. “This is a big achievement because we have never reached this far in the competition,” added the coach.

In the second Group A match home side Rayon Sports WFC defeated Denden FC (Eritrea) 3-0. Regine Ihirwa and Jeannette Ukwinkunda gave Rayon Sports WFC a 2-0 lead. Mizero Ishimwe sealed it for the home team with a late goal to make it 3-0.

Simba Queens (Tanzania) return to action on Monday in a Group C match against Kenya Police Bullets. The secomd match will see Kawempe Muslim Ladies (Uganda) take on table leaders Commercial Bank of Ethiopia in a Groupo B tie.

Group A

                           P   W   D   L    GF   GA GD  Pts

Yei Joint Stars  2    2    0    0    4     0     4     6

Rayon Women 2   1    1    0    3     0     3     4

Mafunzo           2    0    1     1    0    1    -1    1

Denden             2    0    0    2     0    3    -6    0

Group B

                           P   W   D   L    GF   GA GD  Pts

CBE                    1    1    0    0   11    0    11   3

Kawempe          0     0    0    0    0     0     0    0

FC Ujeco           1    0    0    1    0    11  -11   0

Group C

                           P   W   D   L    GF   GA GD  Pts

Simba Queens 1    1    0    0    2     0     2     3

Kenya Police    0    0    0    0    0     0     0     0

Top Girls           1    0    0    1    0     2    -2     0

Commercial Bank of Ethiopia WFC (CBE) have kick started their CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA qualifiers 2026 on a high note with an 11-0 win against FC Ujeco.

The 2024 champions gave the Djibouti side no chance from the word go dominating possession and attacking in numbers at the Kigali Pele Stadium on Saturday in Kigali, Rwanda.

Emush Daniel Dandamo netted two goals in the first half and added three more after recess.

Rediet Matias and Lidiya Eyasu Sorsa also scored a brace each for the Ethiopian giants.

The FC Ujeco side making their first appearance in the Zonal qualifiers tried to fight back, but created few scoring opportunities.

The rampant CBE side that has featured in all the six qualifiers since 2021 also had Etsegenet Girma Negash and Debiso Yukura get their names on the score sheet with a goal each.

Birhanu Gizaw Heye, the CBE head coach says he is excited that his team picked a big win in the opening Group B match.

“We are determined to try and win the title again like we did in 2024. We shall treat every match like a final,” added the coach.

The FC Ujeco coach Ilyas Said Waiss said his team is a young team that is also using the tournament to get experience. “We started poorly, but hope to improve in the next match,” added the coach.

In the second game of the day 2022 winners Simba Queens (Tanzania) defeated Top Girls Academy from Burundi 2-0 in a Group C encounter. Diafra Asha missed a penalty for for the Burundi team early in the second half, before Aisha Juma Mnunka and substitute Musakanda Kusamula scored for Simba Queens.

On Sunday two Group A matches will be played with table leaders Yei Joint Stars facing Mafunzo Women SC (Zanzibar), while Denden FC (Eritrea) battle Rayon Sports WFC.

The CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA qualifiers kicked off on Friday with two Group A match played at the Kigali Pele Stadium.

South Sudan’s Yei Joint Stars FC brushed a side Denden FC from Eritrea in the opening mat, while Zanzibar’s Mafunzo Women FC held Rayon Sports WFC (Rwanda) goalless.

In the opening match Denden FC making a second appearance in the Zonal qualifiers created several scoring opportunities, but the Yei Joint Stars goalkeeper Nawal Isaac Henry Major was up to the task.

Poni Esther Wani gave the South Sudan champions the lead after only four minutes, but the Eritrean side settled in well and fought back strongly. Denden’s Hermiela Tsegay had her penalty kick stopped in the first half.

After recess Grace Aluka netted a brace to ensure the Yei Joint Stars collected maximum points.

Mary Anger Bol, the yei Joint Stars captain says it was good to start the tournament with a win. “This win gives us good momentum ahead of the other two group matches,” added the captain.

The second match saw the two teams create many scoring opportunities, but failed to take them. Mafunzo Women FC skipper Cynthia Shilwatso Musungu came close to finding the net when her shot hit the post after 81 minutes. Substitute Josiane Uwihirwe also hit the post for Rayon Women FC with four minutes added.

Action continues on Saturday with 2024 champions Commercial Bank of Ethiopia taking on FC Ujeco (Djibouti) in a Group B match, while Simba Queens from Tanzania face Top Girls Academy (Burundi) in a Group C match at the same Kigali Pele Stadium

Group A

                                  P   W   D    L    GF  GA  GD  Pts

Yei Joints Stars       1    1    0    0     3     0      3     3

Mafunzo Women  1    0     1    0     0     0     0     1

Rayon Sports WFC 1    0     1    0    0     0     0     1

Denden FC               1    0     0    1    0     3    -3     0

The wait is finally over as the CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA qualifiers will kick-off on Friday at the Kigali Pele Stadium in Rwanda.

South Sudan’s Yei Joint Stars FC who will be making their sixth appearance in the competition will open the campaign in the first Group A match against Denden FC from Eritrea.

Sony Harriet, the Yei Joint Stars FC coach said they are not here just to participate, but to compete.

“We have gained a lot of experience after playing in the last five editions and this time we want to make it out of the group,” added the coach during a press conference held at the Kigali Pele Stadium on Thursday.

She made it clear that they will not underrate any opponent at the tournament. Team captain Mary Anger said the players are all excited to be back in the competition and determined to perform better.

Rezene Gebregiogis, the Denden FC coach also made it clear that after losing all their matches in their first appearance last year, they are determined to perform better this year. “We got the exposure last year, and we are now well prepared and know what to expect,” added Gebregiogis.

The second Group A match will see last year’s runners-up Rayon Sports WFC (Rwanda) take on Mafunzo WFC from Zanzibar.

Claude Rwaka, the Rayon Sports WFC head coach says they are very happy to be playing at home in-front of their fans. “We have prepared well and the team is ready to compete well,” added Rwaka.

Rayon Sports WFC captain Andersen Uwase also called upon their fans to come and motivate them as they try to win the Zonal qualifiers.

The Mafunzo WFC captain Cynthia Shilwatso made it clear that although they respect their opponents, they have prepared well and are ready for the tournament. “We have prepared well and are determined to get till the later stage of the tournament,” added the captain.

Action will shift to Group B on Saturday as 2024 champions Commercial Bank of Ethiopia take on FC Ujeco (Djibouti), while Simba Queens (Tanzania) who lifted the trophy in 2022 take on Top Girls Academy from Burundi.

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