In a thrilling CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA Zonal Qualifiers semifinals, Kenya’s Police Bullets FC overcame Tanzania Women League champions Simba Queens FC 3-2 while hosts, Ethiopia’s CBE Women FC marched on with a 2-1 win over Uganda’s Kawempe Muslim FC on 26th August, 2024.

After registering a barren draw against South Sudan’s Yei Jont Stars, a slim 1 nil win over Rayon Sports Women FC and a loss to CBE Women FC in their Group A matches, Police Bullets FC came all guns blazing to silence Simba Queens.

Bullets were first to get on the score sheet on the 29th minute when Lucy Jira latched on a ball mishandled by Caroline Rufa, Simba Queens goalie. Minutes to half time, Bullets FC lead would be cut by Corazon Aquino close range tap from Elizabeth Wambui cross that had been parried to play by Bullets keeper Annedy Kundu.

Coming from half time a determined Simba took the lead with Corazon skillfully controlling the ball and launching a half volley into the net. The lead didnt last long as it only took 5 minutes for Police Bullets to level matters, this time Diana Wacera sending in a stinging header from a freekick.

Police Bullets marched on, posing threats to the Simba side and on the 82nd minute their efforts paid off, this time Rebecca Akoth beating her marker to round off Simba goalie and slot the ball into an empty net sending Police Bullets team and technical bench into jubilation.

Police Bullets held on their nerves with solid defending to secure a win and bag their maiden Finals ticket.

Later afternoon hosts CBE Women FC squared it off with Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC for a hard fought 2-1 win. CBE started pushing for an early goal but a stubborn Kawempe put the hosts at bay. Its only deep into half time at the 44th minute that CBE’s Mesay Temsegen found back of the net, capitalizing on a rebound to ease the hosts sides frustration.

Coming from half time home side cheers of believe could be heard as both sides kept knocking. However, it didnt take long as Shadia Nabirye capitalized on the Ethiopian side defense melee to guide the ball into the net and level matters.

Both sides produced thrilling performances but couldnt find the net with the match coming to the last minutes. Four minutes to end of play, and what appeared to be a misjudgement by Kawempe goalie, a long range effort by Emedet Asfaw bounced inside the box, straight into the net.

CBE women FC held on their nerves to maintain the lead and eventually march to their 3rd finals since inception of the Zonal Qualifiers in 2021.

CBE Women FC will now face Kenya’s Police Bullets on 29th August, in the CAF Womens Champions League Qualifiers for a coveted ticket to represent CECAFA region at the continental CAF Women’s Champions League 2024.

Simba Queens will earlier in the day take on Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC for a 3rd place play off.

The Tanzania women’s national team, Twiga Stars has arrived in Tunis, Tunisia to play two international friendly matches.

Bakari Nyundo Shime, the head coach says the two matches against Tunisia and Botswana are very important to help keep building the team. The matches will be played between July 11 -16.

Seven professional players included on the squad include; skipper Oppa Clement Tukumbuke (Besiktas, Turkey), Diana Lucas (Ame S.F.K, Turkey), Maimuna Kaimu (ZED FC, Egypt), Clara Luvanga (Al Nasi FC, Saudi Arabia), Aisha Masaka (BK Hacken, Sweden), Juletha Singano (Juarez, Mexico, Enekia Kasonga (Eastern Flames, Saudi Arabia)

In February this year the Twiga Stars were eliminated by South Africa in the third round of the Paris Olympic qualifiers. Zambia and Nigeria went on to book the two slots for Africa.

The Dar Port Kagame Cup 2024 finally got off to a good start with two Group A matches played this afternoon at the KMKM Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Sudan’s Hay Al Wadi and Coastal Union FC (Tanzania) collected maximum points after registering wins.

Jabril Mohamed scored Hay Wadi’s only goal after only three minutes after finding the JKU SC (Zanzibar) defending line flat flatfooted. The two teams continued to pile pressure on either side, but failed to get more goals.

After recess JKU SC looked the better side, but failed to utilize their scoring chances through Mudric Abdi Shehe and Matta Juma Nassoro.

Mohsen Sayed, the Hay Al Wadi coach said he was happy to start the tournament with a win. “It was not an easy match. But I am glad the team scored early and defended well,” added the coach.

In the second match played at the same Stadium, Coastal Union FC who finished fourth in the 2023/2024 Tanzania Premier League made sure they collected maximum points when they beat Dekehada SC 1-0. Ramadhan Mwenda nodded in the only goal two minutes into added time before the break.

Coast Union FC continued to push forward in the second half, but failed to break the Dekehada defence. Action continues in Group C later this evening with SC Villa (Uganda) facing El Merriekh Bentiu (South Sudan), while APR FC (Rwanda) take on Tanzania’s Singida Black Stars FC.

The top team in each of the three groups and the best runners up from any of the groups will automatically qualify for the semi-final stage. Mwenda Ramadhan

Group A standing

                          P      W    D     L       GF     GA    A   Pts

Coastal Union 1       1      0    0        1       0       1     3

Hay Al Wadi    1       1      0    0        1       0       1     3

JKU SC              1       0      0    1        0       1      – 1    0

Dekeheda        1      0       0    1        0       1      -1     0

Kenya and Rwanda are the two members from the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) Zone that have improved their ranking in the latest FIFA ranking released on April 4^th, 2024.

Although Uganda remained static at 92^nd in the world with 1242.15 points and top in the CECAFA Zone, Kenya climbed by four places to 107^th place in the world ranking and second in the Zone with 1191.24 points.

Kenya’s improvement comes after their recent International friendly matches were they defeated hosts Malawi 4-0 and Zimbabwe 3-1 and went on to win the 4-Nations tournament.

Rwanda also improved by two places to 131^st in the FIFA rankings and 5^th in the CECAFA Zone with 1112.44 points. Tanzania remained static at 119^th place and Sudan at 127 points.

Burundi who are placed sixth in the CECAFA Zone are ranked 140^th, Ethiopia 145^th, while South Sudan dropped by one place to 167^th place. Djibouti and Somalia are lowly ranked at 192 and 199 respectively, while Eritrea is unranked.

FIFA rankings for CECAFA members

Uganda – 92

Kenya – 107

Tanzania – 119

Sudan – 127

Rwanda – 131

Burundi – 140

Ethiopia – 145

South Sudan – 167

Djibouti – 192

Somalia – 199

Eritrea – Unranked