CAFWCLQ: JKT Queens, CBE ready for Wednesday showdown

The final of the CAF Women’s Champions League qualifiers for the CECAFA Zone will be played between Tanzania’s JKT Queens FC and Commercial Bank of Ethiopia on Wednesday at the FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru, Uganda.

To reach the final, JKT Queens FC brushed aside Buja Queens (Burundi) 3-1 in the first semifinal, while Commercial Bank of Ethiopia stopped the 2021 winners, Vihiga Queens (Kenya), 2-1 on Sunday.

Going into the final, JKT Queens, who are making their first appearance in the competition, have maintained a 100% winning run after stopping AS Kigali Women, New Generation, and Vihiga Queens in the group stage and now Buja Queens at the knockout stage.

Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, which reached the 2021 final after losing to Vihiga Queens, registered three wins against Yei Joint Stars, FAD FC, and Buja Queens and also drew with Kampala Queens 1-1 in the group stage. They battled from a goal down to stop Vihiga Queens at the knockout stage. The Ethiopians are also the highest-scoring team with 17 goals and have conceded three.

JKT Queens coach Esther Fredy Chaburuma has made it clear that although they have won all four matches in the competition, the final is a different stage.

"We are happy to reach the final, but we know facing the Ethiopian team will not be an easy task. We need to prepare well because I believe in my players if we play according to plan," said the JKT Queens coach, who is also assistant coach of the national women’s team.

On his part, Birhanu Gizaw Heye, the CBE FC coach, says he is excited to reach the second final of the same competition. "It has not been easy getting to the final because all teams in the competition have really improved. But we are a more experienced side than JKT Queens at this level, and we must show that in the final. We shall not take them for granted, but we know what to expect and what to do about it," he said.

Vihiga Queens will face off with Burundi's Buja Queens before in the third-place playoff as a curtainraiser to the final. The match will kickoff at 12PM.

The champion to be decided on August 30th, 2023, will represent the CECAFA Zone at the CAF Women’s Champions League to take place later this year in Cote d’Ivoire.

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