Sports
Kawempe Muslim begin Champions League pursuit with CBE rematch
The Ugandan champions are in Group B with Ethiopia’s Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) and Djibouti’s FC UJECO. Only the group winner will qualify for the semi-finals.
Kawempe Muslim Ladies taking part in a training session at FERWAFA Technical Centre in Kigali. (Courtesy Photo)
By: Chrispus Baluku, Journalist @New Vision
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CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA Zonal Qualifiers
Monday (Kigali Pele Stadium)
Group B
Kawempe Muslim v CBE FC 4 pm
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Kawempe Muslim Ladies will need a strong start in Kigali if they are to reach the semi-finals of the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA Zonal Qualifiers.
The Ugandan champions are in Group B with Ethiopia’s Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) and Djibouti’s FC UJECO. Only the group winner will qualify for the semi-finals.
Kawempe will open their campaign against CBE on Monday at Kigali Pele Stadium before facing FC UJECO on Wednesday at the same venue.
The first game against CBE will be particularly important. The two sides met in the 2024 CECAFA competition, when CBE beat Kawempe 2-0 in the semi-finals before going on to win the title.
Kawempe finished third in that tournament and return this year hoping to go further.
Coach Ayub Khalifa Kiyingi will rely on forward Agnes Nabukenya, who scored 10 goals last season, and league joint-top scorer Latifah Nakasi, who finished with 15 goals.
In midfield, Kiyingi will look to Shakirah Nyinagahirwa, who scored three goals after returning from a serious knee injury.
At the back, Asia Nakibuuka will be important after helping Kawempe keep 11 clean sheets in the FUFA Women Super League.
Kawempe have also strengthened their squad for the tournament, signing striker Cecilia Apiding from Lady Doves and bringing back forward Anita Namata.
The two group games will decide Kawempe’s fate in the competition.
Winning both matches would put the Valley Warriors in the strongest position to finish top of Group B. Six points would guarantee them first place, putting them into the semi-finals on Sunday.
They would then face the best runner-up from the three groups.
A place in the final would take Kawempe closer to their main target of winning the CECAFA qualifiers and securing the region’s place at the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League finals.
Finishing second would not automatically end their campaign.
Coach Ayub Khalifa Kiyingi will rely on forward Agnes Nabukenya, who scored 10 goals last season, and league joint-top scorer Latifah Nakasi, who finished with 15 goals.
In midfield, Kiyingi will look to Shakirah Nyinagahirwa, who scored three goals after returning from a serious knee injury.
At the back, Asia Nakibuuka will be important after helping Kawempe keep 11 clean sheets in the FUFA Women Super League.
Kawempe have also strengthened their squad for the tournament, signing striker Cecilia Apiding from Lady Doves and bringing back forward Anita Namata.
The two group games will decide Kawempe’s fate in the competition.
Winning both matches would put the Valley Warriors in the strongest position to finish top of Group B. Six points would guarantee them first place, putting them into the semi-finals on Sunday.
They would then face the best runner-up from the three groups.
A place in the final would take Kawempe closer to their main target of winning the CECAFA qualifiers and securing the region’s place at the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League finals.
Finishing second would not automatically end their campaign.
The best runner-up from the three groups will also qualify for the semi-finals. Therefore, if Kawempe finish second, their points and goal difference will be important in determining whether they progress.
Two defeats, however, would leave Kawempe without a point and make their chances of reaching the semi-finals extremely difficult.
The tournament started on August 21, 2026, with two Group A matches at Kigali Pele Stadium.
South Sudan’s Yei Joint Stars FC beat Eritrea’s Denden FC, while Zanzibar’s Mafunzo Women FC drew 0-0 with hosts Rayon Sports WFC.
Yei took the lead after only four minutes through Poni Esther Wani. Denden later missed a penalty through Hermiela Tsegay.
In the other game, both Mafunzo and Rayon created chances but failed to score. Mafunzo captain Cynthia Shilwatso Musungu hit the post, while Rayon’s substitute Josiane Uwihirwe also struck the post late in the game.
On Saturday, CBE made a strong start to their campaign with an 11-0 win over FC UJECO.
Emush Daniel Dandamo scored five goals, while Rediet Matias and Lidiya Eyasu Sorsa scored twice each. Etsegenet Girma Negash and Debiso Yukura added one goal apiece.
CBE, the 2024 champions, controlled the game from the start, while UJECO, making their first appearance in the qualifiers, struggled to create chances.
In Group C, 2022 champions Simba Queens beat Burundi’s Top Girls Academy 2-0. Aisha Juma Mnunka and substitute Musakanda Kusamula scored for the Tanzanian side after Top Girls’ Diafra Asha missed a penalty.
On Sunday, Group A continues with Yei Joint Stars facing Mafunzo Women FC, while Denden FC take on Rayon Sports WFC.
Two defeats, however, would leave Kawempe without a point and make their chances of reaching the semi-finals extremely difficult.
The tournament started on August 21, 2026, with two Group A matches at Kigali Pele Stadium.
South Sudan’s Yei Joint Stars FC beat Eritrea’s Denden FC, while Zanzibar’s Mafunzo Women FC drew 0-0 with hosts Rayon Sports WFC.
Yei took the lead after only four minutes through Poni Esther Wani. Denden later missed a penalty through Hermiela Tsegay.
In the other game, both Mafunzo and Rayon created chances but failed to score. Mafunzo captain Cynthia Shilwatso Musungu hit the post, while Rayon’s substitute Josiane Uwihirwe also struck the post late in the game.
On Saturday, CBE made a strong start to their campaign with an 11-0 win over FC UJECO.
Emush Daniel Dandamo scored five goals, while Rediet Matias and Lidiya Eyasu Sorsa scored twice each. Etsegenet Girma Negash and Debiso Yukura added one goal apiece.
CBE, the 2024 champions, controlled the game from the start, while UJECO, making their first appearance in the qualifiers, struggled to create chances.
In Group C, 2022 champions Simba Queens beat Burundi’s Top Girls Academy 2-0. Aisha Juma Mnunka and substitute Musakanda Kusamula scored for the Tanzanian side after Top Girls’ Diafra Asha missed a penalty.
On Sunday, Group A continues with Yei Joint Stars facing Mafunzo Women FC, while Denden FC take on Rayon Sports WFC.