Yei Joint Stars FC at the 2021 CAF Women's Champions League CECAFA Qualifiers
South Sudan's Historic Debut on the Regional Women's Club Stage
By: Emmanuel Patrick Laku | Sports Hunter South Sudan
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Introduction
The 2021 CAF Women's Champions League CECAFA Qualifiers marked a historic moment for South Sudan women's football as Yei Joint Stars FC became the first club from the country to participate in a CAF-organised women's club competition.
Yei Joint Stars qualified for the inaugural CECAFA Women's Club Championship after emerging as South Sudan's women's league champions, earning the opportunity to represent the country against some of the best women's clubs from East and Central Africa.
The tournament, held in Kenya from 28 August to 9 September 2021, was the first regional qualification pathway for the newly launched CAF Women's Champions League.
Drawn in Group B, Yei Joint Stars faced strong opposition from Ethiopia's CBE FC, Kenya's Vihiga Queens, and Zanzibar's New Generation FC.
Although the South Sudanese champions did not progress to the knockout stage, their participation represented a landmark achievement and laid an important foundation for the development of women's club football in South Sudan.
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Tournament Information
Category| Details
Club| Yei Joint Stars FC
Country| South Sudan
Competition| 2021 CAF Women's Champions League CECAFA Qualifiers
Host Country| Kenya
Dates| 28 August – 9 September 2021
Group| Group B
Matches Played| 3
Wins| 1
Draws| 0
Losses| 2
Goals Scored| 2
Goals Conceded| 22
Points| 3
Final Position| 3rd in Group B
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Group B Opponents
Club| Country
CBE FC| Ethiopia
Vihiga Queens| Kenya
Yei Joint Stars FC| South Sudan
New Generation FC| Zanzibar
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Yei Joint Stars Match Results
Matchday One
Yei Joint Stars FC (South Sudan) 2–1 New Generation FC (Zanzibar)
Date: 29 August 2021
Kick-off: 13:00 (UTC+2)
Venue: Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi
Attendance: 0 (Behind Closed Doors)
Referee: Suavis Iratunga (Burundi)
Goals
Yei Joint Stars
- ⚽ 14' Makunda Joseph
- ⚽ 38' Debora Joseph
New Generation FC
- ⚽ 63' Juma
Match Summary
Yei Joint Stars made history with a winning start in their first-ever international club match.
The South Sudanese champions produced a strong performance to defeat Zanzibar's New Generation FC 2–1, with Makunda Joseph and Debora Joseph scoring the goals that secured three valuable points.
The victory became the first-ever win recorded by a South Sudanese women's club in the CAF Women's Champions League CECAFA Qualifiers.
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Matchday Two
Yei Joint Stars FC (South Sudan) 0–11 Vihiga Queens (Kenya)
Date: 1 September 2021
Kick-off: 16:00 (UTC+2)
Venue: Moi International Sports Centre (MISC), Kasarani, Nairobi
Attendance: 0 (Behind Closed Doors)
Referee: Florentina Zabron Chief (Tanzania)
Goals
Yei Joint Stars
- No goals scored.
Vihiga Queens
- ⚽ Goals scored by Vihiga Queens players.
Match Summary
Yei Joint Stars suffered their heaviest defeat of the competition against eventual champions Vihiga Queens.
The Kenyan side displayed their quality and attacking strength, scoring 11 goals to claim a convincing victory.
Despite the defeat, Yei Joint Stars remained in contention for qualification ahead of their final group match.
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Matchday Three
CBE FC (Ethiopia) 10–0 Yei Joint Stars FC (South Sudan)
Date: 3 September 2021
Kick-off: 16:00 (UTC+2)
Venue: Moi International Sports Centre (MISC), Kasarani, Nairobi
Attendance: 0 (Behind Closed Doors)
Referee: Josphine Wanjiku (Kenya)
Goals
CBE FC
- ⚽ Loza Abera 14'
- ⚽ Loza Abera 25'
- ⚽ Loza Abera 31'
- ⚽ Loza Abera 37'
- ⚽ Loza Abera 59'
- ⚽ Loza Abera 79'
- ⚽ Awol 9'
- ⚽ Awol 36'
- ⚽ Worana 34'
Yei Joint Stars
- No goals scored.
Match Summary
Yei Joint Stars concluded their historic campaign with a defeat against Ethiopian champions CBE FC.
CBE FC's attacking power proved too strong, with Loza Abera scoring six goals in the match as the Ethiopian side secured top position in Group B.
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Final Group B Standings
Pos| Club| P| W| D| L| GF| GA| GD| Pts
1| CBE FC (Ethiopia)| 3| 3| 0| 0| 24| 3| +21| 9
2| Vihiga Queens (Kenya)| 3| 2| 0| 1| 21| 4| +17| 6
3| Yei Joint Stars (South Sudan)| 3| 1| 0| 2| 2| 22| -20| 3
4| New Generation FC (Zanzibar)| 3| 0| 0| 3| 2| 20| -18| 0
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Yei Joint Stars Goalscorers
Player| Goals
Makunda Joseph| 1
Debora Joseph| 1
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Yei Joint Stars Tournament Statistics
Category| Record
Matches| 3
Wins| 1
Draws| 0
Losses| 2
Goals Scored| 2
Goals Conceded| 22
Goal Difference| -20
Points| 3
Clean Sheets| 0
Highest Scoring Match| Win: 2–1 vs New Generation FC
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Historical Significance
Yei Joint Stars' appearance in the 2021 CAF Women's Champions League CECAFA Qualifiers remains a landmark achievement for South Sudan football.
The club became:
- The first South Sudanese women's club to compete in a CAF club competition.
- The first South Sudanese women's club to win a match at the CECAFA level.
- The first team to provide South Sudan with representation in the qualification pathway for the CAF Women's Champions League.
Their participation helped raise the profile of women's football in South Sudan and opened the door for future generations of clubs and players to compete on the continental stage.
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Sports Hunter South Sudan Archive
Yei Joint Stars FC – 2021 CAF Women's Champions League CECAFA Qualifiers
