Ethiopia and Tanzania have joined the three other teams from the CECAFA Zone into the second round of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2026 qualifiers.

The Ethiopian team that picked a 2-0 win against South Sudan in Juba a week ago in the first leg, humbled their opponents 6-0 in the return leg played at the Abebe Bikila Stadium in Addis Ababa on Sunday.

Mihret Ayele netted a hat-trick, while Liyan Daniel picked a brace, and Sirya Teshome also scored one goal to ensure Ethiopia qualified on an 8-0 goal aggregate and will face Burundi at the next stage.

Serengeti Girls of Tanzania also silenced Botswana 3-0 in the second leg played at the Azam Complex on Sunday.

Bahati Steven netted a brace, while Harrier Juma also got her name on the score sheet to ensure Tanzania qualified on a 6-2 goal aggregate.

Tanzania will next face South Africa, while Uganda take on Kenya in the second round of the qualifiers. Rwanda who lost the first leg 2-0 to Zambia in Kigali few days ago will play the second leg on April 22.

The second round matches will be played between the period May 22-31^st. Four teams from the African continent will qualify to play at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup to take place in Morocco.

CECAFA teams Uganda, Kenya and Burundi have advanced to the second round of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2026 qualifiers.

The Uganda Teen Cranes qualified on a 6-1 goal aggregate after defeating Zimbabwe 4-1 in the return leg of the first round match played at the FUFA Kadiba Stadium on Saturday.

Brendah Nassaka and Immaculate Acen gave Uganda a 2-0 goal lead after 34 minutes.

With the clock ticking away to half time Giovanna Aketogwanga netted the third goal after 43 minutes, but the visitors also pulled one back through Shantel Gwenhamo.

In the second half Retty Oseko Morra ensured she got here name on the score sheet to make it 4-1 for Uganda after 85 minutes.

At the Ulinzi Sports Complex, hosts Kenya thrashed Namibia 5-0 to qualify for the next stage on a 7-1 goal aggregate.

Brenda Achieng netted a hat-trick, while Emily Adhiambo and Elizabeth Opiya also got their names on the score sheet.

Burundi also eliminated another team from the COSAFA Zone seeing off Malawi 2-1 in the return leg played in Bujumbura on Saturday. Burundi qualified on a 4-2 goal aggregate. Kerene Nshizahabona and Louange Kezimana netted two first half goals for Burundi.

On Friday Rwanda lost 2-0 to Zambia in the first leg played in Kigali. Action continues on Sunday with Ethiopia hosting South Sudan, while Tanzania battle Botswana in second leg ties.

Four teams from the African continent will qualify to play at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup to take place in Morocco.

Five teams from the CECAFA Zone have kick started their FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifier campaigns with away wins.

Tanzania started by recording a 3-2 win against Botswana in a first round match played at the Obed Itani Chikume Stadium.

Fatuma Hassan, Steven Bahati and an own goal by Zuhura Mlekwa ensured Tanzania collected a vital away win. Bridget Setuke and Hope Lesotlo scored for the hosts.

On Saturday Burundi also collected a 2-1 victory against hosts Malawi. Eneles Fabiano gave Malawi the lead, but Belyse Niyonkwizera and Irene Tuyishemeze replied for the Burundi team.

Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya joined the party on Sunday by recording away wins. Betelhem Giachew and Mihret Ayele scored as Ethiopia defeated South Sudan 2-0 in a match played at the Juba National Stadium.

In Harare, Uganda scored through Immaculate Acen and Lydia Nameseruka to stop hosts Zimbabwe 2-0, while Kenya also picked a 2-1 win away to Namibia.

Lindey Weey and Faith Boke scored for Kenya, while Teyanna Awases pulled one back for the hosts.

Rwanda will also be in action on April 17^th in the first leg against Zambia, while DR Congo has already picked a walkover Djibouti.

After the first round two more rounds will be played to determine which four teams qualify to represent Africa at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

Morocco will host the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

Eight teams from the CECAFA Zone have been drawn to play in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2026 African qualifiers.

The Kenya Junior Starlets who played in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2024 in the Dominican Republic will face Namibia in the first round.

A total of 31 teams will be involved in the qualifiers which kick-off in April, 2026. The qualifiers will be played in three knockout rounds, and the best four teams will qualify for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Finals in Morocco.

The draw was conducted on Saturday in Rabat, Morocco where TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is currently taking place. Jacqueline Shipanga, the technical Director of the Namibia Football Federation, CAF Elite Instructor was the draw assistant.

In-case the Kenya Junior Starlets qualifies for the second round they will meet the winner between Zimbabwe and Uganda. Interestingly CECAFA tams Kenya and Tanzania could meet in the final third round hurdle if they managed to sail through their first and second round matches.

Rwanda have been placed against Zambia, while Djibouti take on DR Congo in other first round matches. It will be an all CECAFA affair when South Sudan take on Ethiopia.

While the first round maches take center stage April 10-19^th, the  second round matches of the qualifiers will take place between May 22-31^st, and the final third round takes place between July 3-12^th, 2026

First round

Niger vs Guinea

Burkina Faso vs Benin

Sierra Leone vs Core d’Ivoire

Tunisia vs Senegal

Algeria vs Cameroon

Togo vs Ghana

Libya vs Liberia

Rwanda vs Zambia

DR Congo vs Djibouti

South Sudan vs Ethiopia

Malawi vs Burundi

Botswana vs Tanzania

Central African Republic vs South Africa

Zimbabwe vs Uganda

Namibia vs Kenya