Sports
AS FAR stand between Kawempe and dream Champions League start
The Group B encounter on Monday, November 2, 2026, will be a major test for the Ugandan side, who are making their debut in Africa’s top women’s club competition.
Kawempe Muslim Ladies were flagged off to Cairo, Egypt, for their maiden CAF Women Champions League finals at FUFA House in Mengo. (File Photo)
By: Chrispus Baluku, Journalist @New Vision
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Kawempe Muslim Ladies begin their historic CAF Women’s Champions League campaign against defending champions AS FAR Rabat of Morocco at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo, Egypt.
The Group B encounter on Monday, November 2, 2026, will be a major test for the Ugandan side, who are making their debut in Africa’s top women’s club competition.
AS FAR are among the continent’s most successful sides, having won the title twice, in 2022 and 2025.
Forward Sanaâ Mssoudy will be one of the players Kawempe must watch. She made history by scoring the first hat-trick in a CAF Women’s Champions League final in 2022.
AS FAR also bring international experience, having competed in the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup, where they beat China’s Wuhan Jiangda 2-1 before losing to Arsenal and NJ/NY Gotham FC.
Kawempe coach Ayub Khalifa Kiyingi believes his players are ready for the challenge after weeks of serious preparation.
“After winning the zonal title, we embarked on serious training, and the players have been responding well. We know it will be a tough task in the tournament, but we believe we have what it takes to perform well and challenge for the title,” Khalifa said.
He added that the international exposure gained during the CECAFA qualifiers had helped prepare the team for the competition.
“No Ugandan team has been there or played there before. But I have told the players it is not the first time we are going to play football,” he said.
Kawempe earned their place after winning the CECAFA zonal qualifiers in Rwanda in August, beating Kenya Police Bullets 1-0 in the final.
The Valley Warriors will depend on midfielder-forward Agnes Nabukenya, who scored four goals in four matches during the CECAFA qualifiers and was named the tournament’s most valuable player. She also scored 10 goals in the 2025/26 FUFA Women Super League.
Forward Jovia Nakagolo, who scored three goals in the zonal qualifiers and seven in the domestic league, will provide another attacking option, while attacking midfielder Shakirah Nyinagahirwa is expected to play a key role in creating chances and linking the attack.
“After winning the zonal title, we embarked on serious training, and the players have been responding well. We know it will be a tough task in the tournament, but we believe we have what it takes to perform well and challenge for the title,” Khalifa said.
He added that the international exposure gained during the CECAFA qualifiers had helped prepare the team for the competition.
“No Ugandan team has been there or played there before. But I have told the players it is not the first time we are going to play football,” he said.
Kawempe earned their place after winning the CECAFA zonal qualifiers in Rwanda in August, beating Kenya Police Bullets 1-0 in the final.
The Valley Warriors will depend on midfielder-forward Agnes Nabukenya, who scored four goals in four matches during the CECAFA qualifiers and was named the tournament’s most valuable player. She also scored 10 goals in the 2025/26 FUFA Women Super League.
Forward Jovia Nakagolo, who scored three goals in the zonal qualifiers and seven in the domestic league, will provide another attacking option, while attacking midfielder Shakirah Nyinagahirwa is expected to play a key role in creating chances and linking the attack.
Kawempe named a final squad of 18 players for the tournament, comprising two goalkeepers, five defenders, five midfielders and six forwards. The team was flagged off on Thursday at FUFA Complex by FUFA first vice president Justus Mugisha before departing for Cairo later that day.
After facing AS FAR, Kawempe will take on Mali’s USFAS Bamako on Thursday before meeting Ghana’s Ampem Darkoa Ladies next Sunday.
The sixth edition of the competition, organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), gets underway today, Sunday, and runs until November 15, 2026, in Cairo and Ismailia, Egypt. It features eight teams.
The top two teams in each group will progress to the semi-finals on November 11, with the third-place play-off and final scheduled for November 14 and 15, respectively.
The tournament also offers a financial incentive, with the winners receiving $600,000 (about sh2.2bn), the runners-up $400,000 (about sh1.5bn), third place $350,000 (about sh1.3bn) and fourth place $300,000 (about sh1.1bn). Teams finishing third and fourth in their groups will earn $200,000 (about sh740m) and $150,000 (about sh555m), respectively.
Kawempe’s campaign has received support from the government through the National Council of Sports, which provided sh50m, while FUFA covered air tickets for the 30-member delegation of players and officials.
The winners will qualify for the second qualifying round of the 2027 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup, where they are scheduled to face North Korean side Naegohyang WFC in December. The final phase of that competition will be held in Miami, USA, from January 27 to 31, 2027.
After facing AS FAR, Kawempe will take on Mali’s USFAS Bamako on Thursday before meeting Ghana’s Ampem Darkoa Ladies next Sunday.
The sixth edition of the competition, organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), gets underway today, Sunday, and runs until November 15, 2026, in Cairo and Ismailia, Egypt. It features eight teams.
The top two teams in each group will progress to the semi-finals on November 11, with the third-place play-off and final scheduled for November 14 and 15, respectively.
The tournament also offers a financial incentive, with the winners receiving $600,000 (about sh2.2bn), the runners-up $400,000 (about sh1.5bn), third place $350,000 (about sh1.3bn) and fourth place $300,000 (about sh1.1bn). Teams finishing third and fourth in their groups will earn $200,000 (about sh740m) and $150,000 (about sh555m), respectively.
Kawempe’s campaign has received support from the government through the National Council of Sports, which provided sh50m, while FUFA covered air tickets for the 30-member delegation of players and officials.
The winners will qualify for the second qualifying round of the 2027 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup, where they are scheduled to face North Korean side Naegohyang WFC in December. The final phase of that competition will be held in Miami, USA, from January 27 to 31, 2027.