Kawempe Muslim Ladies Reach CAF Women's Champions League Semi-finals
Kawempe become the first Ugandan side to reach the competition's knockout stage and will face Mamelodi Sundowns after finishing second in Group B. Uganda's Kawempe Muslim Ladies have qualified for the semi-finals of the 2026 CAF Women's Champions League after completing their Group B campaign with a convincing 3-0 victory over Mali's USFA Bamako.
The Ugandan champions secured the win on Sunday at Ismailia Stadium in Egypt, becoming the first team from Uganda to reach the knockout stage of the continental competition. Kawempe broke the deadlock in the 40th minute through Jovia Nakagolo, who gave the CECAFA champions a deserved lead towards the end of the first half.
They returned from the break with renewed determination, and Agnes Nabukenya extended their advantage before scoring again to complete her brace and seal the 3-0 victory. The result saw Kawempe finish second in Group B with six points from three matches, behind Morocco's AS FAR Rabat, who topped the group on goal difference after also collecting six points.
Kawempe had made an impressive start to their maiden appearance in the competition, defeating defending champions AS FAR Rabat 3-2 in their opening match. However, their momentum was checked by a 2-1 defeat to Ghana's Ampem Darkoa Ladies in their second group fixture, leaving them needing a positive result in their final match to secure qualification.
They responded with a commanding performance against USFA Bamako to book their place in the last four. AS FAR Rabat also advanced after beating Ampem Darkoa 1-0 in the other Group B fixture on Sunday, leaving the Ghanaian side outside the qualification places.
Kawempe will now face South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns in the first semi-final, scheduled for November 11, as they seek to extend their impressive debut campaign. The other semi-final will see AS FAR Rabat take on Cameroon's Lekie FF, with the winners advancing to the final.
Kawempe qualified for the continental tournament after winning the CECAFA zonal qualifiers in Rwanda, where they defeated Kenya Police Bullets 1-0 in the final. The sixth edition of the CAF Women's Champions League, organised by the Confederation of African Football, began on November 1 and is scheduled to conclude on November 15, with eight clubs competing for the continental title.