Kenya Police Bullets head coach Beldine Odemba says her side will target nothing short of victory when they open their CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA Qualifiers campaign against Uganda’s Kampala Queens on Thursday.
The match, described as a “final before the final,” kicks off at 4:00 pm after Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) faces Rayon Sports WFC at 1:00 pm as the 10-day qualifiers get underway in Nairobi.
Kenya Police Bullets head coach Beldine Odemba says her side will target nothing short of victory when they open their CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA Qualifiers campaign against Uganda’s Kampala Queens in a Group A clash on Thursday at Nyayo National Stadium. “We play targeting to win. We can only make it better,” Odemba said.
She insisted that her charges are tactically primed after six weeks of preparation to upgrade last year’s runners-up finish. Bullets, who fell 3-1 to defending champions CBE in the 2023 final, are banking on experience and a strong home crowd to get the job done. “Last year, we came so close, and this time the goal is to finish the job,” Odemba said.
She stressed that early goals and compact defending will be key in neutralising Kampala’s pressing game.
The FKF Women’s Premier League champions, featuring in their second consecutive regional qualifier, have strengthened with a string of marquee signings.
Former Embakasi East Ladies skipper and top scorer Laventine Musindi, midfield duo Medina Abubakar Hussein and Jane Hato, dynamic forward Emily Moranga and Albanian league returnee Lourna Nyarinda Nyabuto add to the attacking depth, while Uganda U20 defender Desire Katisi Natooro, Linda Kihara from Ulinzi Starlets and Elizabeth Ochaka bring defensive steel and leadership. “These additions give us quality across all positions,” Odemba said.
“We’ve worked on finishing, set pieces, and pressing high when necessary, but also being disciplined off the ball. The objective is clear—we want that ticket for Kenya.”
Captain Annedy Kundu called on fans to pack the stadium, saying, “Home support is advantageous, and we call upon them to come in this tournament.”
Kampala Queens, making their CECAFA debut after Kawempe FC represented Uganda last year, also promised a fight. “We have prepared enough and know what to expect,” said head coach Asefa Firew Hailegebreal. Group "A" also features Eritrea’s Denden SC.
A total of nine teams will compete across three pools, with group winners and the best runner-up advancing to the semifinals. The champions will fly the CECAFA flag at the CAF Women’s Champions League finals in Egypt this November.
Group "B" brings together CBE, Burundi’s Top Girls Academy FC and Rwanda’s Rayon Sports WFC, while Group "C" has Tanzania’s JKT Queens, South Sudan’s Yei Joint Stars, and Zanzibar’s JKU Princess. Matches will run until September 16, with entry free at Nyayo and Ulinzi to boost attendance and atmosphere.
CECAFA competitions director Yussuf Mossi hailed the event as “a platform for growth,” noting, “Tomorrow we start with two games, including Kenya Police Bullets and Kampala Queens—a final before the final.”
The Format has top teams from each group, and the best runner-up progresses to the semifinals before the final crowns CECAFA’s sole representative for the CAF Women’s Champions League 2025 finals set for November in Egypt.
