- Football Kenya Federation has confirmed that the Harambee Starlets will compete in the 2025 CECAFA Women’s Championship.
- Alongside Kenya, hosts Tanzania, South Sudan, Burundi, and Uganda have also confirmed their participation in the five-nation regional competition.
- Uganda are the defending champions, having won the title in 2021 – the last time the tournament was held.
The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has officially confirmed that the Harambee Starlets will participate in the 2025 CECAFA Senior Women’s Championship, slated for June 12–22 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The tournament is organized by the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) in collaboration with the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF). It gathers elite women’s national teams from the region.
Alongside Kenya, hosts Tanzania, South Sudan, Burundi, and Uganda have also confirmed their participation in the five-nation regional competition.
This regional contest serves as a crucial preparatory event for CECAFA’s representative ahead of the 2025 Africa Women Cup of Nations (WAFCON), which kicks off in Morocco this July.
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Having last been stagedin Uganda in 2022, the tournament’s return this year is timely, offering participating teams a valuable platform to sharpen their squads just weeks before the continental showpiece begins.
“This competition will help our representatives, especially Tanzania, as they prepare for WAFCON. It will also benefit teams gearing up for the 2026 qualifiers,” said Yusuf Mossi, CECAFA’s Competitions Director.
Tanzania, a two-time champion and tournament favorite, will look to leverage home-ground advantage and cement its status as CECAFA’s most decorated women’s side. Kenya, Uganda, and Zanzibar have each lifted the trophy once.
Uganda, the reigning champions, who clinched the 2021 title by defeating Burundi 3–1 in the final at the FUFA Technical Center in Njeru, will be aiming to retain their crown.
Following the Women’s Championship, the inaugural CECAFA Beach Soccer Championship will be held from July 7–12 in Mombasa, Kenya.
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However, the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup and the CECAFA U-20 Women’s Championship will not be held this year.
Meanwhile, the Harambee Starlets are currently in Morocco, where they are scheduled to take on the Atlas Lionesses in an international friendly this evening in Tangier.
The fixture forms part of the team’s broader preparations for the CECAFA Championship and future international engagements.
The Starlets’ participation n in both regional tournaments and high-profile friendlies underlines FKF’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the national women’s team’s exposure and competitiveness on the global stage.
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2025 CECAFA calendar
- CAF Women’s Club Champions League CECAFA Qualifiers (September 3–19, Tanzania)
- Dar Port Kagame Cup 2025 (September 13–27, Tanzania)
- AFCON U-17 CECAFA Qualifiers 2026 (November 15–30, Ethiopia)
- African Schools Football Championship CECAFA Qualifiers (December 1–5)
