Eritrea’s Denden FC have become the latest team to arrive in Rwanda ahead of the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA qualifiers, with the regional tournament set to kick off in Kigali on Friday.
Denden arrived at Kigali International Airport on Tuesday morning, August 18, from Eritrea’s capital, Asmara, joining Mafunzo SC of Zanzibar and FC Ujeco of Djibouti, who had arrived earlier.
The Eritrean champions will compete in Group A alongside Rwanda’s representatives Rayon Sports WFC, Yei Joint Stars FC of South Sudan and Mafunzo SC.
The qualifiers will run from August 21 to 31 in Kigali, bringing together 10 women’s clubs from across the CECAFA region in the race for the zone’s sole ticket to the CAF Women’s Champions League finals.
Matches will be played at Kigali Pelé Stadium and the FERWAFA Technical Centre.
Group B comprises Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, Uganda’s Kawempe Muslim Ladies and FC Ujeco of Djibouti, while Group C features Tanzania’s Simba Queens, Kenya Police Bullets and Burundi’s Top Girls Academy.
The top two teams from Group A will join the winners of Groups B and C in the semifinals. The Group B winner will face the Group A runner-up, while the Group A winner will meet the Group C winner.
The eventual champion, whose title will be decided on August 31, will represent the CECAFA region at the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League.
For Denden, the Kigali campaign marks a return to the regional qualifiers after the Eritrean side failed to progress from the group stage in last year’s edition in Nairobi.
Rayon Sports will carry Rwanda’s hopes after winning the 2025/26 Rwanda Women’s Super League. The Rwandan champions also reached last year’s regional final in Nairobi, where they lost 1-0 to Tanzania’s JKT Queens.
With more teams expected to arrive in Kigali ahead of Friday’s opening matches, attention is now turning to the battle for the region’s coveted place at the continental championship.
