Rayon Sports WFC’s bid to qualify for the CAF Women’s Champions League has ended after the Rwandan side was held to a 1-1 draw by South Sudan’s Yei Joint Stars WFC at Kigali Pele Stadium.
Rayon Sports needed a win to advance but failed to hold on to its lead, allowing Yei Joint Stars to secure the point that confirmed its place at the top of Group A.
Ukwinkunda Jeanette gave Rayon Sports the lead in the 48th minute before Moureen Nankinga equalised for Yei Joint Stars in the 79th minute.
The draw left Yei Joint Stars top of the group with seven points, while Rayon Sports finished second with five. Mafunzo WSC of Zanzibar finished third on three points after a 9-0 victory over Denden WFC of Eritrea.
Despite finishing second, Rayon Sports could not advance as the best runner-up because of the competition’s format. Group A is the only group featuring four teams, while the other two groups have three teams each.
Under the tournament rules, when determining the best second-placed team, points earned against the bottom team in a four-team group are excluded.
Rayon Sports therefore lost the three points it had collected against Denden and was left with two points. Mafunzo was left with one point after beating Denden and drawing with Rayon Sports.
The two points were insufficient for Rayon Sports to qualify, with the second-placed teams in the other groups guaranteed to finish with at least three points.
The elimination continues a difficult record for Rayon Sports in the regional competition. It is the third time the club has represented Rwanda at the CECAFA Women’s Championship and the second time it has failed to progress beyond the group stage.
Rayon Sports also exited in the group stage in 2024, its first appearance in the tournament. Last year, the Rwandan side reached the final but lost to Tanzania’s JKT Queens.
The CECAFA Women’s Championship continues Wednesday with the final Group B and Group C matches.
In Group B, FC Ujeco of Djibouti will face Kawempe Muslim Ladies FC, while Burundi’s Top Girls Academy will play Kenya Police Bullets WFC.
The tournament winner will earn the region’s place in the CAF Women’s Champions League final phase.
