Kenya, Tanzania cruise to second round in 2026 WAFCON qualifiers

Three teams from the CECAFA Zone Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia have cruised through to the second round of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 qualifiers.

After Ethiopia ejected Uganda 5-4 on penalties, Kenya saw off Tunisia 1-0, while Tanzania drew 1-1 with Equatorial Guinea to qualify on a 4-2 goal aggregate.

In a game played in at the Stade Olympique de Sousse, Terry Engesha netted an early goal to give the Harambee Starlets advantage.

Kenya’s goalkeeper Lilian Awuor also played a pivotal role saving two penalties to ensure her team made it to the next round 1-0 on goal aggregate. Kenya will now face Gambia in the second and final round in October

Tanzania also cruised through after holding hosts Equatorial Guinea to a 1-1 draw in Malabo to qualify on a 4-2 goal aggregate. Chuigoue Dorine Nina gave the hosts the lead in the first half, but Enekia Kasonga leveld matters for Tanzania after 73 minutes. Tanzania will now face Ethiopia in the second round.

The other teams from the CECAFA Zone South Sudan, Djibouti, Burundi and Rwanda all failed to make it to the next round.

Burundi suffered a 4-1 defeat to Burkina Faso on Wednesday night to bow out on a 5-1 goal aggregate, while Djibouti suffered a 5-0 defeat to Togo to fall out on a 10-0 goal aggregate.  

The 2026 WAFCON will be hosted by Morocco.

Second round matches

Angola vs Malawi

DR Congo vs South Africa

Tanzania vs Ethiopia

Namibia vs Zambia

Burkina Faso vs Togo

Algeria vs Cameroon

Egypt vs Ghana

Kenya vs Gambia

Benin vs Nigeria

Cape Verde vs Mali

Senegal vs Cote d’Ivoire