The race to determine East Africa’s representative in the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League is under way in Ethiopia.
Eight teams are competing in the CECAFA Zonal Qualifiers, which began on [start date] at Addis Ababa’s Abebe Bikila Stadium.
Tanzania’s Simba Queens, winners of the 2022 qualifiers, are among the favourites. They reached the semi-finals of that year’s Champions League in Morocco, losing 1-0 to South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns.
The CECAFA region has seen three different clubs qualify for the Champions League finals in recent years:
- Vihiga Queens (Kenya) in 2021
- Simba Queens (Tanzania) in 2022
- JKT Queens (Tanzania) in 2023
This year’s qualifiers run until 29 August, with the winner advancing to the Champions League finals later in 2024.
Participating Teams
- Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (Ethiopia)
- Kenya Police Bullets (Kenya)
- Yei Joint FC (South Sudan)
- Simba Queens (Tanzania)
- PVP Buyenzi (Burundi)
- Kawempe Muslim Ladies (Uganda)
- FAD Djibouti (Djibouti)
- Rayon Sport (Rwanda)
Tournament Structure
The eight participating teams are divided into two groups. A win earns three points, a draw one point, and a loss none. Based on accumulated points, the top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals. The winners of the semi-finals will face off for the title, with the victorious team qualifying for the final stages of the competition.
Schedule
(All times are local time)
17/08
Commercial Bank of Ethiopia vs. Rayon Sport — 15:00, Addis Ababa Stadium
18/08
Kenya Police Bullets vs Yei Joint — 15:00, Abebe Bikila Stadium
19/08
PVP Buyenzi vs Kawempe Muslim, 12:00, Abebe Bikila Stadium
Simba Queens vs FAD Djibouti, 15:00, Abebe Bikila Stadium
20/08
CBE – Yei Joint — 12:00, Addis Ababa Stadium
Kenya Police Bullets vs. Rayon Sport — 15:00, Addis Ababa Stadium
21/08
Simba Queens vs. Kawempe Muslim — 13:00, Addis Ababa Stadium
PVP Buyenzi vs. FAD Djibouti — 16:00, Addis Ababa Stadium
22/08
Commercial Bank of Ethiopia vs. Kenya Police Bullets — 15:00, Addis Ababa Stadium
Yei Joint vs. Rayon Sport — 15:00, Abebe Bikila Stadium
23/08
Kawempe Muslim vs. FAD Djibouti — 15:00, Addis Ababa Stadium
Simba Queens vs. PVP Buyenzi — 15:00, Abebe Bikila Stadium
26/08
1st Semi-Final
Winner Group A vs Runner-up Group B – 12:00, Abebe Bikila Stadium
2nd Semi-Final
Winner Group B vs Runner-up Group A – 15:00,Abebe Bikila Stadium
29/08
Third Place
Looser 1st SF v Looser 2nd SF
Final
Winner 1st SF v Winner 2nd SF
Team Profiles
- Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (Ethiopia)
The women’s team of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia Sports Association, known as CBE SA, is a prominent Ethiopian club based in Addis Ababa. The team claimed its first Ethiopian championship titles in 2014 and 2015. After a five-year gap, during which Dedebit FC and Adama City dominated, CBE SA signed Ethiopian star Loza Abera in 2020 and clinched the Ethiopian championship again that year. Despite representing Ethiopia in the inaugural CAF Women’s Champions League, they were runners-up in the CECAFA qualifiers, losing to Kenya’s Vihiga Queens. In 2023, the team won its third consecutive championship but again fell short in the CECAFA qualifiers, losing to Tanzania’s JKT Queens.
Achievements:
Ethiopian Championship: 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Ethiopian Cup: 2012, 2013
CECAFA Tournament: Finalist in 2021 and 2023
- Kenya Police Bullets (Kenya)
Kenya Police Bullets is a Kenyan women’s football team based in Nairobi, serving as the women’s section of Kenya Police FC. Formerly known as Thika Queens, they were promoted to the top division in 2009 and secured their first Kenyan championship in 2015. In 2023, Kenya Police FC, a top-tier men’s team, acquired Thika Queens to form Kenya Police Bullets. This move was in response to CAF’s requirement for clubs to have a women’s team to participate in continental competitions. The Bullets won the 2023-2024 championship but were eliminated in the national cup semifinals by Ulinzi Starlets.
Achievements:
Kenyan Championship: 2015, 2017, 2021, 2024
- Yei Joint FC (South Sudan)
Yei Joint Stars FC is a South Sudanese women’s football team founded in 2019 and based in Yei. As one of the founding teams of the South Sudan National Women’s League in 2021, Yei Joint Stars won the first championship, earning a spot in the inaugural East African qualifiers for the CAF Women’s Champions League. However, they were eliminated by Zanzibar’s New Generation. Despite subsequent local successes, including a dominant cup win, the team was again knocked out in the group stage of the 2022 CECAFA tournament.
Achievements:
South Sudan Championship: 2021, 2022
- Simba Queens (Tanzania)
Simba Queens Sports Club, based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, is the women’s section of Simba SC. Promoted to Tanzania’s top division in 2017, they won their first Women’s Premier League title in 2020. After successfully defending their title, they represented Tanzania in the CECAFA qualifiers for the CAF Women’s Champions League, where they finished fourth. The Simba Queens won their third national title in 2021-2022 and dominated the 2022 CECAFA qualifiers, securing a spot in the continental finals. Although they reached the semifinals, they lost to Mamelodi Sundowns and finished fourth overall.
Achievements:
Tanzanian Championship: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024
CECAFA Tournament: 2022
- PVP Buyzenzi (Burundi)
PVP Buyenzi, a Burundian women’s football club based in Bujumbura, won the national championship in 2020-2021, followed by the First Lady’s Cup, which qualified them for the 2021 CECAFA tournament. Despite a third-place finish in their group, the team reclaimed their national title in 2023-2024.
Achievements:
Burundi Championship: 2021, 2024
Burundi Cup: 2021
- Kawempe Muslim Ladies (Uganda)
Kawempe Muslim LFC, based in Kampala, Uganda, is associated with Kawempe Muslim Secondary School. The team won four consecutive Ugandan championships from 2015 to 2018. In 2024, they reclaimed the national title, surpassing their local rivals, Kampala Queens.
Achievements:
Ugandan Championship: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2024
- FAD Djibouti (Djibouti)
The Forces Armées Djiboutiennes (FAD) football club has dominated Djibouti’s women’s football scene for over a decade, winning its tenth consecutive national championship in 2024. The team also boasts eight Djibouti Cup titles and numerous individual awards for players, top scorers, and club officials.
Achievements:
Djibouti Championship: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
- Rayon Sport (Rwanda)
Rayon Sports WFC, a Rwandan women’s football team based in Nyanza, was founded in 2022. The team won the second division championship in its inaugural season and went undefeated. In 2023-2024, Rayon Sports dethroned AS Kigali to win its first top-tier title and also claimed the Rwandan Cup.
Achievements:
Rwandan Championship: 2023-2024
Rwandan Cup: 2024
CECAFA Tournament History
– Winners
2023: JKT Queens (Tanzania)
2022: Simba Queens (Tanzania)
2021: Vihiga Queens (Kenya)
– Top Scorers
2023: Fauzia Najjemba (Rwanda) – 8 goals
2022 : Loza Abera ( Commercial Bank of Ethiopia) 11 goals
2021 : Loza Abera ( Commercial Bank of Ethiopia) 13 goals
