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

Hosts Ethiopia have ejected Uganda Crested Cranes 5-4 on penalty shootouts in the first round of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 qualifiers.

After losing the first leg 2-0, the Ethiopian team battled to score two goals against Uganda at the Abebe Bikila Stadium in Addis Ababa on Wednesday.

Aregash Kalsa netted the opening goal for the hosts after 66 minutes, moments after Uganda’s forward Fazila Ikwaput had been sent-off.

Earlier Uganda Crested Cranes also had Zaina Namuleme miss a clear cut opportunity, but missed by inches. The hosts continued to attack in numbers, but the Crested Cranes defenders held on strong.

Seven minutes into added time Etsegenet Girma made it 2-0 sending the home fans into jubilations.

During penalty shootouts Ethiopia’s Tarikwa Debiso had her effort saved, while Uganda’s Phiona Nabbumba and Resty Kobusobozi missed.

Ethiopia will now face the winner between Tanzania and Equatorial Guinea in the second round of the qualifiers.

In matches played on Tuesday night South Sudan suffered a 3-0 defeat away to Algeria to drop out on an 8-0 goal aggregate. Rwanda held hosts Egypt to a 2-2 draw, but failed to make it to the next round after losing the first leg 1-0 in Kigali.

In other matches to be played later tonight involving teams from the CECAFA Zone Burundi will face Burkina Faso, Djibouti battle Togo, while Kenya take on Tunisia in Tunis.

Uganda Crested Cranes have defeated Ethiopia 2-0 in the first leg round one clash of the in the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 qualifiers.

After a scrappy first half with the two teams not creating decent scoring chances, the teams produced a more entertaining display after recess at the Hamz Stadium Nakivubo.

The hosts scored late through Zainah Namuleme and Fazilah Ikwaput.

Loza Abera, Ethiopia’s captain plying her trade in the USA came close to scoring midway the second half, but her effort was stopped by Uganda’s goalkeeper Ruth Aturo.

As the match seemed destined for a draw Uganda earned a free kick outside the box. Namuleme made no mistake curling in the free kick past the defenders and the Ethiopian goalkeeper Tarikwa Bergena.

In the third minute of added time Ikwaput lso got her name on the score sheet from close range to ensure Uganda collected a 2-0 win.

In the other matches involving teams from the CECAFA Zone Rwanda suffered a 1-0 defeat to Egypt in Kigali, while hosts Kenya and Tunisia settled for a goalless draw. Later Djibouti will face Togo.

The head coach of Tanzania’s women’s team has said he was impressed with his team’s win against Equatorial Guinea in the first leg first round of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 qualifiers.

Twiga Stars defeated Equatorial Guinea 3-1 in the first leg match played on Thursday at the Azam Stadium.

Bakari Shime made it clear that although his team should have won by a bigger margin, he was impressed at the level they responded after going a goal down in the first half.

“The team showed a lot of hunger and team work has they searched for goals. It is a good first leg result that we must ride on and go get another good result in the return leg,” added Shime.

Getruede Engueme gave the visitors the lead after 42 minutes to silence the home fans. But Twiga Stars responded positively to score three second half goals though Stumai Abdallah, Enekia Kasonga and Diana Msewa.

Action in the WAFCON 2026 qualifiers continues on Friday with four teams from CECAFA Zone taking to the field. Uganda will host Ethiopia, while Djibouti take on Togo.

Rwanda will also face Egypt at the Kigali Pele Stadium, and Kenya play host to Tunisia. On Sunday Burudi will battle Burkina Faso.

Fixture

Feb 21

Uganda vs Ethiopia

Djibouti vs Togo

Rwanda vs Egypt

Kenya vs Tunisia

Feb 23

Burundi vs Burkina Faso