Kenya Elite Junior Academy and TDS Girls from Tanzania have registered wins as the CAF U-17 Girls Integrated Football Tournament (GIFT) 2025 entered Day 2 on Wednesday in Dar es salaam, Tanzania.

The Kenyan side defeated City Light Football Academy from South Sudan 6-0 in a Group A match played at the Azam Complex in Chamazi.

Emily Adhiambo was on target for Kenya Elite Junior Academy after only 8 minutes, and Fleviah Khatenje made it 2-0 after 37 minutes. The City Light Football Academy team tried to reorganize themselves, but failed to stop Kenya Elite Junior Academy’s attacking force.

Substitute Jane Sakwa and Joan Ogola got their names on the scoring sheet before the interval. Skipper Lorine Ishelia Ilavonga and Joan Ogola added two more goals for the Kenyan team.

Midred Omari Cheche, coach of the Kenyan team said she was impressed with the good start her team made in the tournament. “It is a good start, but we must focus on the next match,” added Cheche whose team has now gone top of Group A.

The second match saw TDS Girls (Tanzania) see off Uganda’s Boni Consilli Girls 2-0 in a Group B match.

After a goalless first half Winfrida Mathias and Mary Arone Siyame scored for the home side to give them a perfect start.

Action continues on Friday with two matches on card as JKT Queens (Tanzania) will face Kenya Elite Junior Academy in a Group A match, while City Light Football Academy (South Sudan) will take on Kenys A of Sports.

The tournament, a pioneering initiative by CAF has attracted eight teams from Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Burundi and South Sudan.

Tanzania’s JKT Queens kick started the inaugural CAF U-17 Girls Integrated Football Tournament (GIFT) 2025 with a big win on Tuesday.

JKT Queens defeated Kenya Academy of Sports 3-0 in a match played at the Azam Complex Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Winifrida Hubert Gerald netted a first half brace, while Janeth Matulanga also got her name on the score sheet after 47 minutes.

The Kenya tam led by skipper Halima Imbachi tried to fight back, but failed to find the goals.

“I am happy with the good start in this tournament. We need to keep improving as we have more matches to come,” said JKT Queens coach Esther Fred Chabruma.

Action continues on Wednesday with Kenya Elite Junior Academy facing City Light Football Academy (South Sudan), while TDS Girls from Tanzania battle Boni Consilli Girls from Uganda in the second match.

The tournament, a pioneering initiative by CAF aims to promote the development of women’s football across Africa. It will provides a platform to showcase young female footballers, build player capacity and promote women’s football at regional and continental levels.

The inaugural CAF U-17 Girls Integrated Football Tournament (GIFT) 2025 is set to take place January 7-18, 2025, at the Azam Complex Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

During the draw conducted on Saturday Tanzania’s JKT Queens, City Lights Football Academy (South Sudan), Bahir Dar Kenema FC (Ethiopia) and Kenya Academy of Sports (Kenya) were placed in Group A

Meskerem Taddesse, the Head of Women Football at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) conducted the draw.

She was assisted by Majidah Nantanda (Uganda Women Football Legend, Coach and Instructor) and Teressa Calleb, a former Kenya’s Harambee Starlets player and a Member of CAF Women Football Committee conducted the draw.

Group B has TDS Girls Academy (Tanzania), Boni Consilli Girls Vocational Team (Uganda), Aigle Noir FC (Burundi) and Hilaad FC (Somalia).

Hilaand FC from Somalia will be the first women’s team from Somalia to participate in an international women football tournament. The opening match will see JKT Queens face City Lights Football Academy from South Sudan, while Bahir Dar Kenema (Ethiopia) take on Kenya Academy of Sports in the second Group A match on January 7th, 2025.

The tournament, a pioneering initiative by CAF aims to promote the development of women’s football across Africa. It will provides a platform to showcase young female footballers, build player capacity and promote women’s football at regional and continental levels.

Group A: JKT Queens, City Lights Football Academy, Bahir Dar Kenema FC, Kenya Academy of Sports

Group B: TDS Girls Academy, Boni Consilli Girls Vocational Team, Aigle Noir FC, Hilaad FC