Kenya’s Vihiga Queens are the first East African team to qualify for the inaugural CAF Women’s Champions League.
Jentrix Shikangwa led her side to a 2-1 victory over Ethiopia’s CBE FC during the regional CECAFA qualifiers final played in Nairobi.
The forward came to the final with six goals and opened up the scoring in the 27th minute. A cross from Violet Wanyonyi was poorly dealt with by CBE, allowing Shikangwa to turn in the loose ball.
CBE hammered Vihiga 4-2 in the preliminary round, but the Kenyans held on to take a 1-0 lead into half-time of the final. Shikangwa would be the hero of the match in the second half to counter a CBE equaliser.
Wanyonyi was brought down in the box with just one minute of added time left. Shikangwa stepped up to convert the spot-kick and claim the win for the Vihiga Queens.
“Women’s football is important because women are 51 percent of the world’s community. Women are also behind the family members who are playing football and they are also very passionate in Africa about the game,” said FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura.
“This is the first edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League and having CECAFA and also other regions of CAF organising this. It means we are taking the growth of women’s football to the next level.”
In the third-place playoff, Specer Nacakwa and Fazila Ikwaput were enough for Uganda’s Lady Doves to win bronze.
