The Uganda Teen Cranes have stopped Kenya to qualify for the final of the 2026 CECAFA U-17 Women’s Championship.

Coach Sheryl Ulanda Botes’s team kept a 100% winning run in the competition seeing off Kenya 3-0 in the first semi-final played at the KMC Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Shadia Nabirye gave Uganda the lead after only 6 minutes. The Kenyan defenders failed to clear out the ball giving Nabirye space to slot the ball past goalkeeper Mishel Ng’ono.

The Kenyan team tried to push forward, but the Ugandan defenders kept a close watch on Bakari Mwanakombo and Emily Mbuya.

Immaculate Achen doubled Uganda’s lead after 40 minutes with another finish from close range.

After recess Kenya’s coach Mildred Omari Cheche made some changes that did not yield fruits. The Ugandan team continued to close out gaps giving the Kenyan team no space to reach the goal.

Three minutes into added time Kenya conceded an own goal by Jael Simiyu after a Ugandan corner kick.

“We are very happy to reach the final after winning all our three matches in the group stage and now the semi-final. The players all wan to face Tanzania in the final,” added Uganda’s coach Botes.

The win was a revenge for the Ugandan team was a revenge against Kenya who eliminated them in the third round of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers last month.

The second semi-final match between hosts Tanzania and South Sudan will be played later this evening. The tournament will climax with the final on June 23^rd.

The semi-final stage is set for the 2026 CECAFA U-17 Women’s Championship in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

In the last Group B matches played on Thursday Zanzibar defeated Djibouti 4-0, while Uganda also picked a similar win against South Sudan in matches played at the KMC Stadium.

After losing to South Sudan and Uganda, the Zanzibar Queens finally registered a win.

Defender Luiz Federico netted an own goal after only two minutes to give Zanzibar the lead. Aidda Mnyachisa made it 2-0 after nine minutes.

The Djibouti team tried to play a highly defensive approach, but failed to contain the Zanzibar Queens. Aziza Hamadi and Mariam Hussein added two more goals to ensure Zanzibar picked their only win in the competition.

In the second match Uganda Teen Cranes netted two goals in each half against South Sudan. Shadia Nabirye and Justine Ayerango each scored a brace.

Uganda who finished top of Group A will now face Kenya in one of the semi-final matches

Although Kenya was leading 16-0 against Sudan and the match was abandoned after 56 minutes, the CECAFA organising committee after consultation with CAF declared Kenya the winner by 3 points and 3 goals.  

Hosts Tanzania will take on South Sudan in the other semi-final match.

The CECAFA season opening tournament attracted eight teams; Tanzania, Kenya, Somalia, Djibouti, Uganda, South Sudan, Somalia and Sudan.

Group A table standing

                 P   W   D   L   GF  GA  GD  Pts

Tanzania 3    2    1   0   15    1    14    7

Kenya      3    2    1   0   10    1     9     7

Somalia   3    1    0   2    8   12   -4     3

Sudan      3    0    0   3    2   21   -19   0

Group B table standing

                  P   W   D   L   GF  GA  GD  Pts

Uganda   3    3    0   0   20    0    20    9

S.Sudan   3    2    0   1    7     4     3     6

Zanzibar  3    1    0   2    4     4     0     3

Djibouti   3    0    0   3    0   23   -23   0

Somalia has written history after their team won their first International match in Women’s Football.

After losing the first two matches to Tanzania and Kenya, the Somalia team registered an 8-2 victory against Sudan in a Group A match of the CECAFA U-17 Women’s Championship played on Wednesday.

Nagma Mohamed netted a hat-trick, while Sundus Mohamaed picked a brace in the huge win for Somalia at the KMC Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Hibo Salad, Halimo Isse and Maryan Osoble also got their names on the score sheet.

The Sudan team which is also playing in the regional tournament for the first time scored through Nashwa Abbas and Fatin Fadol.

It was all celebration for the Somalia team that wrote their own history that should ignite more positivity in women’s Football back at home.

“I am very happy that I scored three goals today. This will motivate me to keep working hard,” said Nagma Mohamed who netted a hat-trick and was voted player of the match.

Somalia’s head coach Maha Mohamed Hagi said he was very impressed with the effort of the team and picking their first win at International level. “We came for this tournament to learn and I am glad we have also collected a win. We shall keep improving as we participate in many more tournaments,” added the coach.

Somalia lost their opening match 4-0 to hosts Tanzania, and lost 6-0 to Kenya in the second match. They completed the tournament in style with an 8-2 victory against Sudan.

South Sudan and Uganda have advanced to the semi-final stage at the on-going CECAFA U-17 Women’s Championship 2026.

Uganda defeated Zanzibar 3-0, while South Sudan saw off Djibouti 6-0 in Group B matches played at the KMC Stadium on Tuesday in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Shadia Nabirye gave the Uganda Teen Cranes a first half lead, while Immaculate Achen and Justine Ayerango added two more goals to ensure the team maintained their 100% winning run.

“I am happy to score again today and we continue to work hard ahead of more matches to come,” said Nabirye after the match also watched Riziki Pembe Juma, the Zanzibar Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports

In the second match Ajak Gau and Amou Seber netted a brace each as South Sudan run riot against Djibouti. Hellen Opiaha and Martin Yugu also got their names on the score sheet.

Sony Harret Alfred Odepu, South Sudan’s first assistant coach said the team worked hard to ensure they picked a second straight win.

On Wednesday Somalia will take on Sudan, while Tanzania face Kenya in Group A matches at the KMC Stadium.