2026 CAF Champions League: Kenya Police Bullets one step away from qualifying

Kenya Police Bullets are one match away from qualifying for Africa’s premier club competition, the CAF Champions League.

On Saturday, the three-time Football Kenya Federation Women’s Premier League (FKF-WPL) champions beat Yei Joint Stars from South Sudan 5-0 in the semi-finals of Cecafa region qualifiers at Kigali Pele Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda.

Kenya Police Bullets will now play Uganda’s Kawempe Muslim on Monday in the final at the same venue. The winner of the match will clinch the single slot reserved for East and Central Africa at the 2026 CAF Women Champions League.

Monday’s final match will be preceded by a third-place play-off match between Yei Joint Stars and the 2024 champions Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) at the same venue.

On Monday, forward Tereza Engesha opened the scoring for Kenya Police Bullets in the 10th minute of the match, and new signing Martha Amunyolette added two more goals in the 34th and 74th minutes for a 3-0 lead.

Lorna Nyabuto made it 4-0 for the Kenyan champions in the 55th minute, and Rebecca, who has been away for Kenya Police Service training, completed the rout with a late goal in the 87th minute.

Amunyolette, who joined Bullets from four-time FKF-WPL champions Vihiga Queens in August 2026, is the tournament’s top scorer with four goals in three matches.

Kenya Police Bullets navigated their way from Group ‘C’ and led with six points after beating Tanzania’s Simba Queens 2-1 and overcoming Burundi’s Top Girls Academy 3-1 in their final group stage match.

The Kenyan side will be playing in the final of Cecafa region qualifiers for the second time. They reached the final on their debut at that stage in 2024 but lost 1-0 to CBE, and missed out on qualification for the continental competition.

On the other hand, Kawempe Muslim secured a place in the final after stunning CBE 3-0 in the second semi-final match played on Saturday. Jovia Nakagolo put the Ugandan side ahead in the 17th minute before CBE defender Tigist Adane scored an own goal in the 54th minute. Nabukenya Agnes completed the scoring in the 72nd minute.

Yei Joint Stars, meanwhile, reached the knockout stage for the first time in six attempts. Coach Sony Harriet’s side finished top of Group ‘A’ after beating Eritrea’s Denden FC 3-0, edging Zanzibar’s Mafunzo Women WFC 1-0 and drawing 1-1 with hosts Rayon Sports WFC.

The 11-day tournament carries added significance, with the winners earning the region’s sole ticket to the sixth edition of the Caf Women’s Champions League. Caf is yet to announce the host country for the sixth edition of the continental tournament.

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