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

Kenya Starlets head coach Beldine Odemba has praised her team for the good show in their big 5-0 win against hosts Morocco in an international friendly match played on Tuesday.

“I am very happy that after drawing 2-2 in the first match, we managed to re-organise and win 5-0 in the second match,” said a happy Odemba.

Fasila Adhiambo gave Kenya the lead at the Mohammed VI Football Complex after 16 minutes, and Adam Mwanalima made it 2-0 ten minutes later.

The home side tried to get back in the game, but the Kenya Starlets team defended well. Mwanalima netted her second, while Violet Nanjala and Elizabeth Mideva also got their names on the score sheet.

Odemba said that playing such international friendly matches help them build the team and give different players the opportunity to play.  “We hope to play many more International friendly matches and also participate in some tournaments which will help us get better,” added the coach.

In October this year the Kenya Starlets played in the 4-Nations Pink Ladies Cup in Turkey.

CECAFA representatives Tanzania will face defending champions South Africa at the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Morocco 2024.

The Tanzania team, Twiga Stars are placed in Group C alongside South Africa, Ghana and Mali during the draw conducted on Friday night at the Mohammed VI Technical Centre in Sale, Morocco.

Dr. Patrice Motsepe, the CAF President also attended the ceremony. The draw was conducted by Samson Adamu, the  Director of Tournament and Events at CAF.

The other members who assisted with the draw include;  Andile Dlamini, a key member of South Africa’s victorious 2022 WAFCON squad, Salima Mukansanga (Rwanda), a who made made history as the first female official to referee a men’s FIFA World Cup match during Qatar 2022, and  Fatiha Laassiri (Morocco), a former Moroccan international and a celebrated figure in women’s football.

The WAFCON 2024 to feature 12 teams will take place in the Moroccan cities of Rabat and Casablanca from July 5-26th, 2025. Tanzania who qualified after seeing off Ivory Coast and Togo will be returning to the WAFCON after 14 years since their last appearance in 2010.

South Africa, the reigning champions, are among the teams to watch in this 13th edition of the tournament.

Group A: Morocco, Zambia, Senegal, DR Congo

Group B: Nigeria, Tunisia, Algeria, Botswana

Group C: South Africa, Ghana, Mali, Tanzania