CBE trounce Police Bullets to win CECAFA zone CAF Women’s Champions League title

By Peter Ochieng

Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) are the 2024 CECAFA zone CAF Women’s Champions League winners, after defeating Kenya Police Bullets in the final.

The Kenya Women Premier League (KWPL) champions went down 1-0 in the final, played on Thursday afternoon in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Senaf Wakuma scored the lone goal in the second half, after a defence-splitting pass by Senayit Bogale. CBE had suffered heartbreak in the last two consecutive finals.

CBE and Bullets met in the group stage, with the Ethiopians prevailing 2-1. The Ethiopians will now represent the CECAFA region in the CAF Women’s Champions League, later this year.

The qualifying phase of the fourth edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League began in early August. Title holders, Mamelodi Sundowns qualified for the final phase of the competition where they will be hoping to secure a record third continental title.

Eight teams will compete in the final phase of the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League. As reigning champions, Mamelodi Sundowns will be joined by the tournament hosts as the two automatically qualified.

Each of the CAF Zonal Unions (6) will conduct their own qualifiers, with the winners set to gain qualification to the CAF Women’s Champions League. CAF is yet to determine the hosts of this year’s edition of CAF Women’s Champions League action.

Bullets were seeking to become the second Kenyan side to be crowned CECAFA region champions, after Vihiga Queens in 2021. Coach Beldine Odemba’s charges opened the scoring in the 29th minute through Lucy Kwekwe, before their opponents equalised nine minutes later when Kenyan international Corazone Aquino, beat Police keeper Annette Kundu.

Aquino scored a stunner to put Simba Queens ahead in the 55th minute, before Diana Wacera’s header from a set-piece made it 2-2.

The Kenyans sealed the win through Rebecca Okwaro’s superb finish in the 83nd minute, to qualify for the competition’s final.