Football loving fans in Rwanda have been invited to come in large numbers to support the CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA qualifiers prepared to host

Rwanda will hosts the Zonal qualifier bringing together 10 teams from August 21-31^st in the capital Kigali.

Speaking during the official press conference held at the Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) headquarters on Wednesday, Nikita Gicanda, the Commissioner in-charge of Women Football in the Federation Executive Committee called on all Rwandans to come and support the Women.

“Please come in big numbers to support the best teams in the region as they play in the Zonal qualifier. It is important as Rwanda that we host such International tournaments so that people feel and see the action and appreciate it,” added Gicanda.

The FERWAFA General Secretary, Bonnie Mugabe said Rwanda was happy to host yet another International tournament after successfully hosting the CECAFA Kagame Cup few days ago. “As Rwanda we are happy to host another tournament in the Zone, and we call upon the fans to come and support,” added Mugabe.

Andrew Jackson Oryada, the CECAFA Head of Marketing and Communications also thanked Rwanda for hosting a successful CECAFA Kagame Cup few days ago.

“On behalf of the CECAFA President Paulos Andermariam, we thank the Rwanda government and FERWAFA for hosting an excellent CECAFA Kagame Cup. We hope that many Rwandan fans will again come forward to support the CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA qualifiers,” added Oryada.

The Zonal champion will represent the CECAFA Zone at the CAF Women’s Champions League 2026.

Commercial Bank of Ethiopia WFC, the 2024 champions, FC Ujeco (Djibouti), Rayon Sport WFC (Rwanda), Yei Joints Stars FC (South Sudan), Mafunzo SC (Zanzibar), Denden FC (Eritrea), Simba Queens (Tanzania), Kenya Police Bullets FC (Kenya), Kawempe Muslim Ladies (Uganda) and Top Girls Academy FC (Burundi) are the teams that will tussle it out in the qualifiers.

Seventeen referees and assistant referees are undergoing preparations ahead of the CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA qualifiers 2026.

Rwanda will host the tournament from August 21-31^st in the capital Kigali with 10 teams taking part.

Head of refereeing for the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA), Ali Ahmed told Cecafaonline.com that all the 16 female referees are responding well to the preparations that are in class and also physical.

“We are excited about the level of fitness among most of the referees and assistants invited and we are confident they will be at their best while handling the matches,” added Ahmed.

Fresh from officiating at the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, two referees Aline Umutoni (Rwanda) and Kenya’s Josephine Wanjiku will join the other 14 referees to handle the Zonal qualifier. The tournament will have eight referees and nine assistant referees.

The referees and assistant referees underwent a workshop at the Gorillas Golf Hotel, and also had a physical exercise at the Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) ground on Wednesday.

Hone team Rayon Sport WFC, Yei Joint Star FC (South Sudan), Mafunzo SC (Zanzibar), Denden FC (Eritrea), CBE FC (Ethiopia), Kawempe Muslim Ladies (Uganda), FC Ujeco (Djibouti), Simba Queens (Tanzania), Kenya Police Bullets FC (Kenya), and Top Girls Academy FC from Burundi are the ten teams taking part in the Zonal qualifiers.

The champion will represent the CECAFA Zone at the CAF Women’s Champions League 2026.

Referees

Henriette Buyukenya, Aline Umutoni, Regine Mukayoranga (Rwanda), Diana Murungi, Immaculate Ongiera (Uganda), Joseyline Nsabimana, Anitha Niyokindi (Burundi), Josephine Wanjiku, Virgina Wangui (Kenya), Deka Muse (Djibouti), Mary Sulaimani, Zawadi Yusuf (Tanzania), Yordanos Mulgeta, Woinshet Abera (Ethiopia), Arsema Haile (Eritrea), Emmanuella Ako, Stella Sebit (South Sudan)  

Eritrea’s Denden FC have arrived ahead of the CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA qualifiers 2026.

The Denden FC team arrived at the Kigali International Airport Rwanda on Tuesday morning.

Denden FC will be making their second appearance in the qualifiers after failing to make it through the group stage last year in Nairobi, Kenya.

Ten teams will tussle it out in the qualifiers from August 21-31^st. Matches will be played at the Kigali Pele Stadium, and the FERWAFA Technical Center ground.

Denden FC handled by Rezene Gebregiorgis Demoz are placed in Group A alongside Rayon Sport WFC (Rwanda), Yei Joint Star FC (South Sudan) and Zanzibar’s Mafunzo SC.

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

South Sudan giants Yei Joint Stars will open their campaign against Denden FC (Eritrea) as the CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA qualifiers 2026 kicks off on August 21^st.

The opening Group A match will take place at the Kigali Pele Stadium as Yei Joint Stars make their sixth appearance in the regional qualifiers.

According to the fixtures the second Group A match game between Rayon Sport WFC (Rwanda) and Mafunzo SC from Zanzibar will take place at the same venue.

Action will shift to Group B on August 22 with 2024 winners Commercial Bank of Ethiopia facing FC Ujeco (Djibouti), and later Simba Queens (Tanzania) up against Tops Girls Academy from Burundi in a Group C tie.

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 to be decided o August 31^st 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