By: Emmanuel Patrick Laku | Sports Hunter South Sudan
The group stage of the 2025 CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA Qualifiers introduced a new competition format, with nine teams divided into three groups of three.
Unlike previous editions where the top two teams from each group progressed, only the three group winners and the best runner-up advanced to the semi-finals.
South Sudan champions Yei Joint Stars FC were drawn in Group C alongside defending regional champions JKT Queens FC of Tanzania and debutants JKU Princess FC from Zanzibar.
The South Sudanese side entered the competition as the most consistent club in the history of the qualifiers, making their fifth consecutive appearance since the tournament began in 2021.
Group C Teams
🇹🇿 JKT Queens FC — Tanzania
🇸🇸 Yei Joint Stars FC — South Sudan
🇿🇦 JKU Princess FC — Zanzibar
Group C Standings
Position Team Played Won Draw Lost GF GA GD Points Qualification
1 JKT Queens FC (Tanzania) 2 2 0 0 7 0 +7 6 Semi-finals
2 Yei Joint Stars FC (South Sudan) 2 1 0 1 4 4 0 3 Best runners-up ranking
3 JKU Princess (Zanzibar) 2 0 0 2 2 9 -7 0 Eliminated
Yei Joint Stars FC 🇸🇸 Group Stage Campaign
Yei Joint Stars FC continued their remarkable run in regional women’s football by participating in their fifth straight CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA Qualifiers.
The South Sudan champions opened their campaign against Zanzibar’s JKU Princess before facing defending champions JKT Queens in their final group match.
The team showed attacking quality, scoring four goals in two matches, but their defeat against JKT Queens prevented them from topping the group.
Matchday One
5 September 2025
JKT Queens FC (Tanzania) 5–0 JKU Princess (Zanzibar)
Venue: Ulinzi Complex, Nairobi, Kenya
Goals:
Jamila Rajab 18’, 36’, 71’
Winifrida Gerald 27’
Asha Mlangwa 88’
JKT Queens began their title defence with a convincing victory.
8 September 2025
Yei Joint Stars FC (South Sudan) 4–2 JKU Princess (Zanzibar)
Venue: Ulinzi Complex, Nairobi, Kenya
Yei Joint Stars secured an important opening victory in their fifth CECAFA campaign.
Goals:
Yei Joint Stars FC
Grace Aluka 34’
Immaculate Ambayo 81’
Mariam Luis Lasuba 83’
Own Goal 90+1’
JKU Princess
Winfrida Mathias 1’
Winfrida Mathias 3’
The result placed Yei Joint Stars in a strong position ahead of their final group match.
11 September 2025
JKT Queens FC (Tanzania) 2–0 Yei Joint Stars FC (South Sudan)
Venue: Ulinzi Complex, Nairobi, Kenya
Defending champions JKT Queens secured the top position in Group C after defeating South Sudan’s representatives.
Goals:
Jamila Rajab 60’
Ester Maseke Marwa 68’
The victory confirmed JKT Queens’ qualification to the semi-finals, while Yei Joint Stars finished second in the group.
Other Group Results
Group A
Teams:
🇰🇪 Kenya Police Bullets
🇪🇷 Denden SC
🇺🇬 Kampala Queens
Kampala Queens advanced as group winners after a strong performance, while Kenya Police Bullets also remained in contention through the best runners-up ranking.
Group B
Teams:
🇪🇹 Commercial Bank of Ethiopia FC
🇧🇮 Top Girls Academy
🇷🇼 Rayon Sports Women
CBE FC and Rayon Sports battled for qualification, with Rayon Sports eventually progressing to the knockout stage.
Best Runners-up Ranking
With only one runner-up advancing to the semi-finals, the best second-placed teams were compared.
Position Group Team Played Won Draw Lost GF GA GD Points
1 A Kampala Queens (Uganda) 2 1 0 1 7 1 +6 3
2 C Yei Joint Stars (South Sudan) 2 1 0 1 4 4 0 3
3 B Top Girls Academy (Burundi) 2 0 2 0 — — — 2
Kampala Queens advanced as the best runner-up due to their superior goal difference.
Yei Joint Stars FC’s Historic Milestone 🇸🇸
The 2025 edition marked another historic chapter for Yei Joint Stars FC.
The club became the first South Sudanese women’s club to participate in five consecutive editions of the CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA Qualifiers.
Their appearances:
2021 — Group Stage
2022 — Group Stage
2023 — Group Stage
2024 — Group Stage
2025 — Group Stage
Although they did not reach the semi-finals, their performance in Nairobi showed continued improvement, including a four-goal victory over JKU Princess and a competitive display against defending champions JKT Queens.
Group Stage Highlights
JKT Queens continued their dominance after winning the competition in 2023 and 2024.
Kenya Police Bullets built on their 2024 runners-up finish.
Rayon Sports Women reached their first CECAFA knockout stage.
Kampala Queens produced one of the strongest attacking performances in the group stage.
Yei Joint Stars maintained South Sudan’s presence at every edition of the competition since its creation.
