Kigali, Rwanda: Finance Trust Bank FUFA Women Super League champions Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC have been handed a challenging draw in the 2026 CECAFA Zonal Qualifiers for the CAF Women’s Champions League after being placed in Group B alongside Ethiopia’s Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) and FC UJECO of Djibouti.
The official draw was conducted on Thursday at the Amahoro Stadium Conference Hall in Kigali, Rwanda, by CECAFA Head of Marketing and Communication Andrew Jackson Oryada, assisted by former Rwanda international Gloria Sofia Nibagwire.
The regional qualifying tournament will be held in Kigali from August 21 to 31, with matches taking place at Kigali Pele Stadium and the FERWAFA Technical Centre.
Kawempe Muslim secured Uganda’s sole qualification slot after winning the 2025/26 Finance Trust Bank FUFA Women Super League title in dramatic fashion. The Valley Warriors sealed the championship with a 3-1 victory over Olila High School on the final day of the season, while closest challengers She Corporate were held to a goalless draw by She Maroons.
Their toughest obstacle in Group B is expected to be Ethiopian champions Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, one of East Africa’s most formidable women’s clubs. CBE lifted the CECAFA Women’s Champions League Qualifiers title in 2024 and have established themselves as regular contenders, having reached two regional finals in recent years.
Djibouti’s FC UJECO completes the three-team group.
The tournament will feature 10 clubs from across the CECAFA region.
Hosts Rayon Sport WFC headline Group A alongside Yei Joint Star FC of South Sudan, Mafunzo SC from Zanzibar and Denden FC of Eritrea.
Former regional champions Simba Queens of Tanzania were drawn in Group C with Kenya Police Bullets FC and Top Girls Academy FC of Burundi.
Under the tournament format, the top two teams in Group A, together with the winners of Groups B and C, will advance to the semifinals.
The winner of Group B will face the Group A runners-up, while the Group A winners will meet the Group C winners for a place in the final.
Only the tournament champion will earn the CECAFA region’s ticket to the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League, Africa’s premier women’s club competition.
CECAFA Women’s Champions League Qualifiers Draw
Group A
- Rayon Sport WFC (Rwanda)
- Yei Joint Star FC (South Sudan)
- Mafunzo SC (Zanzibar)
- Denden FC (Eritrea)
Group B
- Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (Ethiopia)
- Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC (Uganda)
- FC UJECO (Djibouti)
Group C
- Simba Queens (Tanzania)
- Kenya Police Bullets FC (Kenya)
- Top Girls Academy FC (Burundi)
Kawempe Muslim will be aiming to join the growing list of Ugandan clubs that have represented the country on the continental stage, with the Valley Warriors hoping to build on an impressive domestic campaign by securing regional glory in Kigali.
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
