Kigali is set to become the centre of East and Central African women’s football as the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA qualifiers take place from August 21 to 31. Ten teams will compete across venues including Kigali Pelé Stadium and the FERWAFA Technical Center, with the tournament winner earning the region’s place at the CAF Women’s Champions League final tournament.
Rwanda will be represented by Rayon Sports WFC, which has been drawn in Group A alongside Yei Joint Stars FC of South Sudan, Mafunzo SC of Zanzibar and Denden FC of Eritrea. The group is expected to provide a demanding test for the Rwandan champions, with the top two teams advancing to the semi-final stage.
The competition comes with added motivation for Rayon Sports WFC, which reached the final of last year’s CECAFA qualifiers. The Rwandan side lost that final to Tanzania’s JKT Queens, meaning the home team will be eager to go one step further this time. Their previous campaign also showed that they can compete with some of the region’s strongest women’s clubs.
A tough road to the continental stage
The current best teams will represent the CECAFA Zone at the CAF Women’s Champions League 2026.
- Group A: Rayon Sport WFC, Yei Joint Star FC, Mafunzo SC, Denden FC
- Group B: CBE FC, Kawempe Muslim Ladies, FC Ujeco
- Group C: Simba Queens, Kenya Police Bullets FC, Top Girls Academy FC
The tournament’s format makes every group match important. The top two teams from Group A, together with the winners of Groups B and C, will advance to the semi-finals. The eventual champion, scheduled to be decided on August 31, will represent the CECAFA region at the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League.
For Rayon Sports WFC, playing at home could provide an important advantage. The club will face Mafunzo SC in its opening Group A fixture, while Yei Joint Stars FC and Denden FC provide further competition. Denden are making their second appearance in the qualifiers after failing to progress from the group stage in last year’s tournament.
The Rwandan side also has experience of competing at this level, and its ambitions are clear. In the previous CECAFA campaign, coach Claude Rwaka stressed the competitiveness of the tournament, saying, “There is no weak team in this tournament.” That assessment remains relevant as Rayon Sports seeks to navigate another challenging regional field.
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With Kigali hosting the competition, attention will be firmly on Rayon Sports WFC and the country’s wider women’s football programme. A strong performance—and potentially qualification for the continental tournament—would give Rwandan women’s club football another significant boost while showcasing Kigali as a growing destination for major regional football competitions.
