📅 August 20, 2026
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👤 Kabuma Node
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📁 East Africa
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🕑 2 min read
Seventeen referees and assistant referees are undergoing preparations ahead of the CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA qualifiers 2026.
Rwanda will host the tournament from August 21-31st in the capital Kigali with 10 teams taking part.
Head of refereeing for the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA), Ali Ahmed told Cecafaonline.com that all the 16 female referees are responding well to the preparations that are in class and also physical.
“We are excited about the level of fitness among most of the referees and assistants invited and we are confident they will be at their best while handling the matches,” added Ahmed.
Fresh from officiating at the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, two referees Aline Umutoni (Rwanda) and Kenya’s Josephine Wanjiku will join the other 14 referees to handle the Zonal qualifier. The tournament will have eight referees and nine assistant referees.
The referees and assistant referees underwent a workshop at the Gorillas Golf Hotel, and also had a physical exercise at the Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) ground on Wednesday.
Hone team Rayon Sport WFC, Yei Joint Star FC (South Sudan), Mafunzo SC (Zanzibar), Denden FC (Eritrea), CBE FC (Ethiopia), Kawempe Muslim Ladies (Uganda), FC Ujeco (Djibouti), Simba Queens (Tanzania), Kenya Police Bullets FC (Kenya), and Top Girls Academy FC from Burundi are the ten teams taking part in the Zonal qualifiers.
The champion will represent the CECAFA Zone at the CAF Women’s Champions League 2026.
Referees
Henriette Buyukenya, Aline Umutoni, Regine Mukayoranga (Rwanda), Diana Murungi, Immaculate Ongiera (Uganda), Joseyline Nsabimana, Anitha Niyokindi (Burundi), Josephine Wanjiku, Virgina Wangui (Kenya), Deka Muse (Djibouti), Mary Sulaimani, Zawadi Yusuf (Tanzania), Yordanos Mulgeta, Woinshet Abera (Ethiopia), Arsema Haile (Eritrea), Emmanuella Ako, Stella Sebit (South Sudan).
