Tanzania’s JKT Queens FC have stopped Commercial Bank of Ethiopia FC (CBE FC) in the final of the CAF Women’s Champions League qualifiers for the CECAFA Zone which ended in Njeru, Uganda this evening.

After a goalless 90 minutes and further 30 minutes of extra time, it was the debutants JKT Queens who were sharp at penalty shootouts to win 5-4 to book a place to represent the CECAFA Zone at the CAF Women’s Champions League 2023 slate to take place in Cote d’Ivoire later this year.

JKT Queens converted their penalties through Ester Mbanza Gindulya, Donisia Daniel Minja, Winifrida Gerald, Anastazia Antony Katunzi and Happyness Hezron Mwaipaja. CBE FC converted through Loza Abera, Emebet Asfaw, Arehasg Kalsa Tadesse, Tinbit Samuel Bassa, while Mesay Temesgen Bizuneh’s penalty was saved by the JKT Queens goalkeeper.

” I am very happy that we are champions and will play in the CAF Women’s Champions League. The players have worked hard because we won all our matches in the competition, ” said JKT Queens coach Esther Fredy Chaburuma.

The CBE FC coach Birhanu Gizaw Heye said although his player gave a good account, they wasted some good chances. ” We had some good chances but failed to score. We shall come back next time, ” added the CBE FC coach.

In the play-off Burundi’s Buja Queens FC beat 2021 winners Vihiga Queens FC 1-0 to settle for a bronze medal. Lydia Akoth netted the lone goal after 41 minutes.

JKT Queens Situmai Abdallah Athumani was voted Best Player, while Najit Abass Idrisa (JKT Queens) was Best Goalkeeper, and Kampala Queens FC’s Fazila Ikwaput took the golden boot after netting 8 goals. Uganda’s Kampala Queens also received the Fair Play Award.

The competition attracted nine teams from Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Rwanda, Burundi, Djibouti and South Sudan.

The final of the CAF Women’s Champions League qualifiers for the CECAFA Zone will be played between Tanzania’s JKT Queens FC and Commercial Bank of Ethiopia on Wednesday at the FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru, Uganda.

To reach the final JKT Queens FC brushed a side Buja Queens (Burundi) 3-1 in the first semi final, while Commercial Bank of Ethiopia stopped the 2021 winners Vihiga Queens (Kenya) 2-1 on Sunday.

Going into the final JKT Queens who are making their first time appearance in the competition have maintained a 100% winning run after stopping AS Kigali Women, New Generation and Vihiga Queens in the group stage and now Buja Queens at the knock out stage.  

Commercial Bank of Ethiopia who reached the 2021 final losing to Vihiga Queens registered three wins against Yei Joint Stars, FAD FC and Buja Queens, and also drew with Kampala Queens 1-1 in the group stage. They battle from a goal down to stop Vihiga Queens at the knock out stage. The Ethiopians are also the highest scoring team with 17 goals and conceded three.

But JKT Queens coach Esther Fredy Chaburuma has made it clear that although they have won all their four matches in the competition, the final is a different stage.

” We are happy to reach the final, but we know facing the Ethiopian team will not be an easy task, ” We need to prepare well because I believe in my players if we play according to plan, ” added the JKT Queens coach, who is also assistant coach of the national women’s team.

On his part Birhanu Gizaw Heye, the CBE FC coach says he is excited to reach the second final of the same competition. ” It has not been easy getting to the final because all teams in the competition have really improved. But we are a more experienced side than JKT Queens at this level and we must show that in the final. We shall not take them for granted, but we know what to expect and what to do about it, ” added Gizaw.

The champion to be decided on August 30th, 2023 will represent the CECAFA Zone at the CAF Women’s Champions League to take place later this year in Cote d’Ivoire.

The semi final stage is finally set at the on-going 2023 CAF Women’s Champions League qualifiers – CECAFA Zone after Commercial Bank of Ethiopia FC and Buja Queens FC (Burundi) booked the last two places on Thursday.

After their 4-0 win against Yei Joint Stars (South Sudan), the Ethiopia giants finished top of Group A. They will now face  the 2021 Zonal champions Vihiga Queens (Kenya) in the knock out stage.

In the match against Yei Joint Stars, Ariet Odong, Loza Abera, Senayt Bogale Boyzo and Mesay Temesgen Tanga were enough to ensure CBE FC finished top of the group with three wins and one draw.

Birhanu Gizaw Heye, the CBE FC head coach made it clear that they are aware of the strengths of Vihiga Queens because they have played them twice since the tournament started. “We beat them once and lost once at the 2021 edition and we shall now prepare well for them because we must be at our best,” added Heye.

In the second match the start studded Buga Queens from Burundi struggled to beat a highly defensive FAD FC (Djibouti) team 2-1.

The first half ended goalless with the FAD FC goalkeeper Taslim Houssein Abdillahi making  several saves.

In the second half Ruth Ingosi put Buga Queens ahead in the 75th minute, but Nadia Nour leveld matters for FAD FC 10 minutes. As the match looked headed for a draw Kenyan international Topister Situma scored Buga Queens winning goal after 88 minutes.

The semi finals will be played on August 27th with JKT Queens (Tanzania) facing Buja Queens, while Commercial Bank of Ethiopia take on Kenya’s Vihiga Queens FC. The final will be played on August 30th and the winner will represent the CECAFA Zone at the CAF Women’s Champions League 2023 to take place in Cote d’Ivoire in November.

With the group stages of the on-going CAF Women’s Champions League qualifiers – CECAFA Zone almost complete, Kampala Queens FC’s forward Fazila Ikwaput leads the scorers chart with eight goals.

Ikwaput who netted a hattrick in Kampala Queens’ 3-0 win against Yei Joint Stars last week was on target five times as her team humbled FAD FC (Djibouti) 6-1 on Monday at the FUFA Technical Center, Njeru.

She scored a hattrick in the first half and added two goals later, while defender Elizabeth Nakigozi netted the other. FAD FC’s Rahma Moustapha Aden pulled one back for her team.

” As a striker I always set my targets and I came to this tournament with a set target of finishing as the top scorer. Let me see how it goes because we have finished our group matches now, ” Ikwaput told Cecafaonline.com

The other two players who have scored three goals each are Commercial Bank of Ethiopia’s skipper Loza Abera Geinore and Topister Nafula Situma (Vihiga Queens).

Already JKT Queens from Tanzania who won all their three matches finished top of Group B, while Vihiga Queens came second and all await to battle at the semi final stage. Group A is yet to be decided with Commercial Bank of Ethiopia leading with 7 points, but with one more game to play.

Kampala Queens FC also have 7 points and are second on the log having played four matches. Buja Queens (Burundi) are third with 6 points and with one match to be played, while Yei Joint Stars (South Sudan) have 3 points, while FAD FC are bottom with no point after three matches.

The best team in the CECAFA Zonal qualifiers will play in the CAF Women’s Championship League 2023 to take place in Cote d’Ivoire later this year.