Vihiga eye redemption with bronze medal match

• Vihiga Queens lost the semi-final 2-1 to Ethiopia’s CBE
• They will play Buja Queens in the third place play-off
• CBE faces JKT of Tanzania in the final

Vihiga Queens tactician Charles Okere says the team will dust off the disappointment of missing out on a ticket to the CAF Women’s Champions League, and focus on clinching bronze in the CECAFA qualification tournament.

Vihiga were beaten 2-1 by Ethiopia’s Commercial Bank in Sunday’s semi-final in Kampala, knocking them out of a qualification opportunity.

They will now take on Burundi’s Beja Queens, composed of mostly Kenyan players, in the third-place play-off duel on Wednesday.

“It was a very tough loss against CBE. We had controlled the game really well but a lapse in concentration in the dying minutes cost us. But that is done and we have now refocused on our last match which is to fight for bronze,” the coach said.

He added; “We want to at least go back home with a medal on our necks and we will work hard to try and get something off the game.”

Against CBE, Vihiga were well set to fly into the final after Bertha Omita had given them a 53rd minute lead in a very tightly contested game.

However, skipper Loza Abera scored the equalizer in the 95th minute to force the game to extra time, before Aregash Tadesse won it for them.

Debutants JKT look to clinch inaugural title

Tanzania’s JKT Queens line up before a past match in the CECAFA Regional Qualifiers of the CAF Women’s Champions League

Meanwhile, debutants JKT Queens of Tanzania are determined to ensure the CECAFA region slot for the third edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League remains in Tanzania as they prepare to face Ethiopia’s CBE in the final in Kampala.

Simba Queens won the title last year and with JKT beating them to the title, they want to follow in their footsteps and qualify for the final as well.

JKT Queens coach Esther Fredy Chaburuma has made it clear that although they have won all their four matches in the competition, the final is a different stage.

“We are happy to reach the final, but we know facing the Ethiopian team will not be an easy task. We need to prepare well because I believe in my players if we play according to plan,” the coach said.

Going into the final JKT Queens have maintained a 100pc winning run after stopping AS Kigali Women, New Generation and Vihiga Queens in the group stage and Buja Queens at the knock out stage.

To reach the final JKT Queens FC brushed a side Buja Queens (Burundi) 3-1 in the first semi final.

Can CBE finally secure the ticket?

Ethiopia’s CBE line up before a past match in the CECAFA Regional Qualifiers of the CAF Women’s Champions League

Meanwhile, Ethiopia’s CBE have gotten close every year in their quest to qualify for the CAF Champions League. In the inaugural CECAFA regional qualifiers in 2021, they were beaten by Vihiga Queens in Nairobi, while last year, they narrowly missed out on the final.

This year, they have once again made the final after beating Vihiga in the semis and will take on Tanzania’s JKT in the final, to determine who represents the CECAFA region in the third edition of the tournament.

Birhanu Gizaw Heye, the CBE FC coach says he is excited to reach the second final of the same competition and hopes his girls can deliver the title finally.

“It has not been easy getting to the final because all teams in the competition have really improved. But we are a more experienced side than JKT Queens at this level and we must show that in the final. We shall not take them for granted, but we know what to expect and what to do about it,” said the coach.

To reach the final, CBE won three of their group matches against Yei Joint Stars, FAD FC and Buja Queens, and drew with Kampala Queens 1-1.