By: Emmanuel Patrick Laku | Sports Hunter South Sudan | JULY 30, 2026
JUBA - The draw for the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA Qualifiers has already made headlines across the region. But for South Sudan champions Yei Joint Stars FC, the real story is not who they will face—it is what this draw could mean.
After five consecutive appearances in the regional qualifiers without progressing beyond the group stage, Yei Joint Stars may have been handed one of their best opportunities yet to reach the knockout rounds for the first time.
Drawn in Group A, the South Sudan champions will face Rayon Sports Women of Rwanda, Mafunzo SC of Zanzibar, and Denden FC of Eritrea.
On paper, it is a challenging group, but one that avoids recent regional champions Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE), Simba Queens, and JKT Queens—three clubs that have dominated the competition over the past four editions.
A Different Challenge
Rayon Sports enter the tournament as the strongest team in Group A after finishing runners-up in the 2025 CECAFA qualifiers. The Rwandan side will likely be favourites to top the group, making Yei Joint Stars' meeting with them a defining fixture.
For the Super Queens, the matches against debutants Denden FC and Zanzibar's Mafunzo SC could prove just as important. Positive results in those games would strengthen their chances of challenging for a place in the knockout stage. Unlike previous editions, where South Sudan's representatives often found themselves grouped with tournament favourites, the 2026 draw presents a more balanced pathway.
Experience Could Be the Difference
No South Sudanese women's club has more experience on the regional stage than Yei Joint Stars.
Since the inaugural edition in 2021, the club has represented the country in every CECAFA Women's Champions League qualifier, building valuable experience against East and Central Africa's top clubs.
That journey has included matches against Simba Queens, JKT Queens, Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, She Corporate, Kenya Police Bullets and Kampala Queens—teams that have all reached the latter stages of the competition.
Although knockout qualification has remained elusive, each campaign has added experience to a squad that continues to carry South Sudan's ambitions on the regional stage.
Signs of Progress
The 2025 edition in Nairobi offered encouraging evidence that Yei Joint Stars are closing the gap on the region's elite. After losing their opening minutes against JKU Princess, they produced a spirited comeback to win 4–2, showcasing resilience and attacking quality. They then competed against eventual champions JKT Queens before exiting in the group stage.
Those performances suggested a team growing in confidence rather than one simply making up the numbers.
A Chance to Make History
The 2026 qualifiers now present Yei Joint Stars with another opportunity to rewrite their story. A place in the knockout stage would be the club's best-ever finish in the competition and a landmark achievement for South Sudan women's football.
It would also underline the progress the club has made after years of consistently representing the country at regional level.
For a team that has spent five years gaining experience, the challenge is no longer just to compete—it is to take the next step.
2026 Group A
- 🇸🇸 Yei Joint Stars (South Sudan)
- 🇷🇼 Rayon Sports Women (Rwanda)
- 🇿🇦 Mafunzo SC (Zanzibar)
- 🇪🇷 Denden FC (Eritrea)
As the tournament approaches, Yei Joint Stars will believe that this is more than another continental campaign. It could be their best opportunity yet to transform consistency into history.
