The CECAFA Senior Women’s Championship 2025 finally kicks off this afternoon with Burundi facing reigning champions Uganda Crested Cranes at the Azam Complex in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Olivier Alian Niyungeko, Burundi’s head coach told Cecafaonline that although they expect a very tough encounter against Uganda, his team is well prepared.
“This is a kind of tournament where every match is very important and we want to make a good start,” says Niyungeko who will miss the services of Rah Roy Nzoyikorera who has been battling a fever since the team arrived in Tanzania.
Sheryl Botes Ulanda, Uganda Crested Cranes head coach also made it clear that what is important will be to have a good start in the tournament. “We need to approach every match strongly and starting with a win will give us a good start,” added Ulanda.
In their last meeting at the 2022 CECAFA Senior Women’s Championship Uganda defeated Burundi 4-1 in the group stage and 3-1 in the final played at the FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru.
The second match of the day will see South Sudan face a tough test against the Twiga Stars of Tanzania. Fresh from recording two wins against DR Congo international friendly matches, coach Bakari Shime will expect some of his key forwards like Opa Clement Tukumbuke and Clara Cleitus Luvanga to be at their best to find the goals.
“We shall not underrate any team in this tournament,” says Shime. “South Sudan who will reply on majority of the Yei Joint Stars players will also be hoping to make a good start.
The regional competition which has attracted five teams will be played on a round robin basis with all the teams playing four matches.
“We have had to push the kick-off by a day as the South Sudan team because of some challenges can only arrive on Wednesday,” says Yusuf Mossi, the Competitions Director of the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA).
“The competition with help our representatives to the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, Tanzania prepare better and the other teams to get more exposure,” says the CECAFA Competitions Director Yussuf Mossi.