Vihiga likely to bolster squad ahead of Champions League action

Women Premier League (WPL) side Vihiga Queens are set to host the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Women's Champions League CECAFA regional qualifier from July 17 to August 1 as they chase a ticket to the inaugural showpiece set to be staged in November. 

Coach Alex Alumira, while acknowledging that the current squad can compete against any team in the regions, has not ruled out making a few additions to add to the team's depth ahead of the competition. 

"The players and management deserve the credit for this chance. While we intend to reward the current squad for their exploits, we are still looking at the possibility of making not more than three additions to strengthen the team. We will be up against the best from each country and we need to have a depth to handle such level of competition. For the local league we are operating with a lean squad," Alumira said.

Eleven teams from Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Rwanda, Burundi, Zanzibar and the hosts Kenya will fight it out for the single ticket reserved for the region in the Women's Champions League.

The other CAF zones, Council of South African Football Association (Cosafa), Union of Football Federations of Central Africa (Uniffac), West African Football Union (Wafu) and Union of North African Football Association (Unaf) will also organise their qualifying tournaments to pick representatives to the championship.

Six teams will qualify via the zonal competitions, one will be the host nation and for the inaugural event, CAF has now decided to cede the wild card to WAFU B, as the region of the Africa Women's Cup of Nations title holders, which will see the zone parade two teams. 

"This is a good opportunity to give our players, especially those who are yet to feature for the national team, exposure to international football. This will go a long way in exposing their talents to the World. We have begun preparations for the same as we have about 10 weeks and the current suspension of sporting activities has forced us to train virtually and in small groups. We hope the situation will change soon so we can get to train as a unit," Alumira expressed.