CAF Women Champions League: Bronze, $350,000 at stake as Kawempe face Lekié
Kawempe Muslim Ladies have one more opportunity to make their historic CAF Women's Champions League debut even more memorable when they face Cameroon's Lekié Football Filles in Saturday's third-place playoff, with a bronze medal and USD 350,000 at stake. Having already broken new ground as the first Ugandan club to reach the continental finals, Kawempe will be eager to finish their campaign on a high when the two debutants meet at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia, Egypt, at 3 p.
It is a meeting that carries significance beyond the two clubs. Both are chasing their countries' first-ever podium finish in the competition, meaning Saturday's winner will take home more than a medal.
They will also earn USD 350,000, while the fourth-placed team will receive USD 300,000. For Kawempe, the opportunity comes after a campaign that has already given Ugandan women's football plenty to celebrate.
Their journey to Egypt began with victory at the CECAFA Zonal Qualifiers in Kigali, Rwanda, where they defeated Kenya Police Bullets 1-0 after extra time to book their place at the finals. They carried that determination into Egypt, where they announced themselves in style by stunning defending champions AS FAR of Morocco 3-2 in their opening Group B match.
Captain Agnes Nabukenya was the difference, scoring twice, including a dramatic 94th-minute winner, while Shakirah Nyinagahirwa also got on the scoresheet. The victory gave Kawempe an early statement of intent, although their next outing brought them back to earth with a narrow 2-1 defeat against Ghana's Ampem Darkoa Ladies, despite a spirited second-half response.
They recovered impressively against Mali's USFAS Bamako, winning 3-0 to secure their place in the semi-finals. Agnes struck another brace, taking her tournament tally to four goals, while Jovia Nakagolo added a header.
That victory was particularly significant, becoming the biggest winning margin recorded by an East African club at the competition. Kawempe finished second in Group B with six points from three matches, level with group winners AS FAR and Ampem Darkoa.
They progressed alongside AS FAR after the three teams were separated by head-to-head tiebreakers. Their reward was a semifinal meeting with South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns, but the Ugandans found the two-time champions difficult to contain.
Sundowns scored four times in the first half before Latifah Nakasi pulled one back after the break. The 4-1 defeat ended Kawempe's hopes of reaching the final, while substitute Anitah Namata's late red card means she will miss Saturday's encounter through suspension.