Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC stormed into the final of the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA qualifiers with a commanding 3-0 victory over Ethiopia’s Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) at Kigali Pele Stadium on Saturday.
Jovia Nakagolo opened the scoring after 18 minutes, capitalising on a defensive lapse to put the Ugandan champions ahead.
CBE, the 2024 champions, enjoyed spells of possession but struggled to make their dominance count in the final third. Etsegenet Girma Negash came closest to levelling when her well-struck effort was saved by Kawempe goalkeeper Saidah Namwanje.
Kawempe doubled their advantage after the break when CBE defender Tigist Adane Belhu inadvertently diverted a Nakagolo effort into her own net, leaving goalkeeper Tarikua Bargena Balcha helpless.
The Ethiopians responded by committing more players forward, but Kawempe’s defence remained resolute.
Agnes Nabukenya then put the result beyond doubt in the 70th minute, calmly lifting the ball over Balcha to complete a memorable 3-0 victory.
The result sends Kawempe into the zonal final for the first time on their second attempt and caps an impressive campaign in Kigali.
They had earlier defeated CBE 1-0 before thrashing Djibouti’s FC UJECO 8-0 in the group stage.
They will face Kenya Police Bullets FC in Monday’s final after the Kenyan champions dispatched South Sudan’s Yei Joint Stars 5-0 in the second semi-final.
Tereza Obunyu gave Police the lead after 10 minutes before Martha Amunyolete Emedot doubled the advantage with a 34th-minute header.
Lorna Nyabuto made it 3-0 after the interval, with Emedot converting from the spot for her second before substitute Rebecca Akinyi Okwaro completed the rout.
“We are very happy getting to the final after winning all our matches,” said Police coach David Bujego Rangon.
Police had earlier beaten Tanzania’s Simba Queens 2-1 and Burundi’s Top Girls Academy 3-1.
The August 31 final will determine the CECAFA representative at the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League finals, with CAF yet to announce the host country for the tournament.
