Kenya is among eight nations confirmed to take part in the upcoming 2026 CECAFA U17 Women Championship which is set to kick off the new CECAFA football season in June
The tournament will be hosted from 13-23 June in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania bringing together the region’s most promising young female talents in what promises to be a competitive and developmental showcase.
The Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) has officially confirmed the participating teams, with CECAFA Competitions Manager Yusuf Mossi revealing that eight Member Associations have already submitted their confirmations.
The lineup includes Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Djibouti, Somalia and Sudan.
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Notably, Somalia and Sudan will be fielding women’s teams at international level for the first time, marking a significant step forward for women’s football development in the region.
Their inclusion is expected to add fresh energy and unpredictability to the competition.
Speaking on the tournament’s importance, Mossi emphasized that the championship will play a key role in preparing teams for future international assignments, especially those targeting FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualification pathways.
He noted that the competition will offer valuable exposure and high-level match experience for young players across the CECAFA region.
“This tournament will also help teams from our Zone that would have qualified for the last stage of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers prepare better,” Mossi explained, highlighting its developmental purpose beyond regional rivalry.
For Kenya, the tournament presents another opportunity to assess and sharpen its youth women’s football structure against regional opponents, particularly as the country continues to invest in grassroots and junior women’s football development.
Beyond the U-17 Women’s Championship, CECAFA has lined up a busy calendar for 2026, with five other competitions planned.
These include the CECAFA Kagame Cup, CAF African Schools Football Championship CECAFA qualifiers, Africa Cup of Nations U-20 CECAFA qualifiers, and the Africa Cup of Nations U-17 CECAFA qualifiers.
With the season set to begin in Tanzania, attention will now shift to team preparations as nations fine-tune their squads ahead of what promises to be a busy and competitive CECAFA football calendar.
Confirmed teams for 2026 CECAFA U17 Women Championship
Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Djibouti, Somalia and Sudan.
