What hosting CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA qualifiers means for Kenyan football
By Joel Masibo, August 27, 2025Kenya has been granted an opportunity to host some of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Women’s Champions League CECAFA region qualifiers 2025 matches amid the development of women’s football in the country.
The country’s representatives at the showpiece, the reigning Football Kenya Federation Women’s Premier League champions, Kenya Police Bullets, have been drawn in Group A of the qualifiers, based on the draw that was conducted by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, in Cairo, Egypt.
Hosting the CECAFA qualifiers for the second time highlights Kenya’s growing stature in women’s football. The return of the tournament offers another opportunity to showcase talent, inspire the next generation, and build on the legacy that began with Vihiga Queens’ triumph in 2021.
For the Kenya Police Bullets, it is a chance to underline their dominance locally and prove themselves as contenders on the continental front after gaining ground in the local league.
There is a wide gap between men’s and women’s football in Kenya in matters of facilitation, infrastructural development and remuneration, but with more clubs getting continental exposure, Kenya’s game in the ladies category could rise.
Qualifiers pools and dates
The qualifiers, which will determine CECAFA’s representative at the CAF Women’s Champions League, are set for September 4 to 16, 2025, at Nyayo Stadium and Ulinzi Complex in Nairobi. This will be the second time Kenya is hosting the qualifiers, having staged the inaugural edition in 2021, where Vihiga Queens made history by winning the title.
Kenya Police Bullets, winners of the 2024/25 FKF Women’s Premier League for a second consecutive season, will compete against debutant Denden FC of Eritrea and Uganda’s Kampala Queens.
This will be Kenya Police Bullets’ second appearance in the qualifiers. In 2024, they reached the final but lost to Ethiopia’s CBE. With home support behind them this time, the Bullets are determined to push further and book their ticket to the continental stage.
Group B will feature Ethiopia’s CBE, who represented the region at last year’s continental showpiece, alongside Top Girls Academy of Burundi and Rwanda’s Rayon Sports WFC. In Group C, Tanzania’s JKT Queens will face South Sudan’s Yei Joint Stars and Zanzibar’s JKU Princess. The regional tournament is scheduled to run from September 2 to 26, 2025.