By: Emmanuel Patrick Laku | Sports Hunter South Sudan
Introduction
The 2021 CAF Women's Champions League CECAFA Qualifiers marked a historic milestone in African women's club football as the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) staged the inaugural regional qualifying tournament for the newly established CAF Women's Champions League.
Held in Kenya from 28 August to 9 September 2021, the competition brought together the champion clubs from across the CECAFA region to battle for the sole qualification spot to the inaugural CAF Women's Champions League finals later that year.
The tournament was originally expected to feature nine clubs from nine associations, but the withdrawal of Eritrea's Denden FC before kick-off reduced the competition to eight teams, divided into two groups of four.
Matches were played at Nyayo National Stadium and the Moi International Sports Centre (MISC), Kasarani, both located in Nairobi.
For South Sudan, the tournament represented another historic first as Yei Joint Stars FC became the country's first women's club to compete in an international CAF club competition after qualifying as the inaugural South Sudan women's league champions.
The championship showcased the rapid growth of women's football across East and Central Africa, producing 85 goals in just 16 matches, with Ethiopia's Loza Abera finishing as the tournament's leading scorer on 13 goals.
Kenya's Vihiga Queens eventually lifted the inaugural CECAFA title after defeating Ethiopia's CBE FC 2–1 in the final to secure qualification for the first-ever CAF Women's Champions League.
Tournament Information
Category| Details
Tournament| 2021 CAF Women's Champions League CECAFA Qualifiers
Edition| 1st
Organiser| CECAFA
Confederation| CAF
Host Nation| Kenya
Dates| 28 August – 9 September 2021
Teams| 8 (following one withdrawal)
Associations| 8
Venues| 2
Cities| Nairobi
Total Matches| 16
Total Goals| 85
Average Goals per Match| 5.31
Qualification| Winners qualified for the inaugural CAF Women's Champions League
Host Cities and Stadiums
Nairobi
Nyayo National Stadium
- Capacity: 30,000
- Hosted opening matches
- Hosted several group-stage fixtures
- Hosted both semi-finals
Moi International Sports Centre (Kasarani)
- Capacity: 60,000
- Hosted group-stage fixtures
- Hosted the third-place playoff
- Hosted the final
Participating Clubs
Association| Club
Kenya| Vihiga Queens
Ethiopia| CBE FC
Uganda| Lady Doves WFC
Tanzania| Simba Queens
South Sudan| Yei Joint Stars FC
Burundi| PVP Buyenzi
Djibouti| FAD Club
Zanzibar| New Generation FC
Eritrea| Denden FC (withdrew before the tournament)
Tournament Format
Following the withdrawal of Denden FC, the tournament adopted a two-group format, with eight clubs divided equally into Group A and Group B.
Each club played every other team in its respective group once under a round-robin system.
The top two teams from each group advanced to the semi-finals.
The winners of the semi-finals progressed to the final, while the losing semi-finalists met in the third-place match.
The tournament champion earned CECAFA's only qualification place for the inaugural CAF Women's Champions League.
Tiebreakers
If two or more teams finished level on points, rankings were determined by:
1. Points in head-to-head matches
2. Goal difference in head-to-head matches
3. Goals scored in head-to-head matches
4. Reapplication of head-to-head criteria (if necessary)
5. Overall goal difference
6. Overall goals scored
7. Penalty shoot-out (if applicable)
8. Disciplinary points
9. Drawing of lots
Match Officials
Referees
Referee| Country
Shamirah Nabadda| Uganda
Suavis Iratunga| Burundi
Darlene Nduwayo| Burundi
Asnakech Gebire| Ethiopia
Medab Wondmu Biftu| Ethiopia
Carolyne Wanjala| Kenya
Josphine Wanjiku| Kenya
Florentina Zabron Chief| Tanzania
Assistant Referees
Assistant Referee| Country
Lydia Nantabo| Uganda
Marex Nkumbi Nakitto| Uganda
Arcella Uwizera| Burundi
Fidès Bangurambona| Burundi
Woinshet Kassaye Abera| Ethiopia
Yelfashewa Kassahun| Ethiopia
Jane Cherono| Kenya
Carolyne Kiles| Kenya
Janeth Balama| Tanzania
Hellen Mduma| Tanzania
Group A
Teams
- Lady Doves WFC (Uganda)
- Simba Queens (Tanzania)
- PVP Buyenzi (Burundi)
- FAD Club (Djibouti)
Matchday One
28 August 2021
Lady Doves WFC (Uganda) 5–0 FAD Club (Djibouti)
Kick-off: 13:00 (UTC+2)
Venue: Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi
Attendance: 0 (Behind Closed Doors)
Referee: Medab Wondmu Biftu (Ethiopia)
Goals
Lady Doves WFC
- ⚽ 16' Riticia Nabbossa
- ⚽ 30' Fazila Ikwaput
- ⚽ 53' Rokiatou Doumba
- ⚽ 85' Fazila Ikwaput
FAD Club
- ⚽ 60' Hibo Abdi Abdillahi (Own Goal)
Match Summary
Ugandan champions Lady Doves WFC made an impressive start to the inaugural tournament with a dominant 5–0 victory over Djibouti's FAD Club. Fazila Ikwaput scored twice as Lady Doves climbed to the top of Group A on goal difference.
PVP Buyenzi (Burundi) 1–4 Simba Queens (Tanzania)
Kick-off: 16:00 (UTC+2)
Venue: Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi
Attendance: 0 (Behind Closed Doors)
Referee: Carolyne Wanjala (Kenya)
Goals
PVP Buyenzi
- ⚽ 52' Nicole Rehema (Penalty)
Simba Queens
- ⚽ 2' Danai Bhobho
- ⚽ 32' Flavine Mawete
- ⚽ 75' Aisha Juma
- ⚽ 88' Flavine Mawete (Penalty)
Match Summary
Simba Queens announced themselves as serious title contenders after defeating Burundi's PVP Buyenzi 4–1. Flavine Mawete struck twice while Danai Bhobho opened the scoring after only two minutes, giving the Tanzanian champions a commanding opening victory.
End of Part 1A
Coming next in Part 1B: Group A Matchday Two, Matchday Three, final standings, qualification scenarios and Group A statistics.
