ISIMAILIA. Kawempe Muslim Ladies arrived in Egypt carrying the distinction of becoming Uganda’s first representatives at the CAF Women’s Champions League finals. They now stand one victory away from the final.
That shift gives their debut campaign a significance beyond qualification, with Wednesday’s semi-final against Mamelodi Sundowns offering another opportunity to stretch Ugandan football’s ambitions.
Sunday’s 3-0 victory over Mali’s USFAS Bamako secured second place in Group B, but the greater achievement was Kawempe’s response to adversity.
Having stunned defending champions AS FAR Rabat 3-2 in their opening match, the Ugandans suffered a 2-1 defeat to Ghana’s Ampem Darkoa Ladies.
That setback threatened to turn a memorable introduction into a missed opportunity, instead, Kawempe recovered to deliver their biggest victory of the group stage.
Nabukenya delivers again
Agnes Nabukenya’s two goals against USFAS, alongside Jovia Nakagolo’s contribution, underlined the influence of players who had already shaped Kawempe’s journey to Egypt.
Nabukenya scored the extra-time winner against Kenya Police Bullets in August’s CECAFA qualifying final, securing the club’s first appearance at the continental tournament.
Kawempe won all four matches in that regional campaign, scoring 13 goals without conceding, evidence that their breakthrough was built on sustained performance.
Their progress in Egypt has required a different quality, recovering after defeat while keeping qualification within reach.
Against USFAS, Nabukenya struck in the 23rd minute before Nakagolo doubled the advantage in the 39th, Nabukenya added her second after 71 minutes.
Combined with AS FAR’s 2-0 victory over Ampem Darkoa, the result sent Kawempe into the last four and eliminated the Ghanaian side.
However qualification has already created a new assignment for coach Ayub Khalifa Kiyingi.
“We now need to focus on the next stage,” he told CECAFA after the match.
Sundowns raise the stakes
That next stage brings a meeting with two-time champions Mamelodi Sundowns on Wednesday, November 11, with a place in the final at stake.
The South African side topped Group A with seven points, presenting Kawempe with another test against an established continental force.
Kawempe’s opening victory over AS FAR offers a valuable reference point, they have already beaten a side accustomed to competing for this trophy.
Yet the Ampem Darkoa defeat provides an equally important lesson.
Goalkeeping errors proved costly in that match, illustrating how quickly mistakes can undermine an otherwise competitive performance.
The challenge is to carry their attacking confidence into Wednesday while reducing the errors that could become decisive in knockout football.
Kawempe’s run offers a tangible example of what lies beyond regional qualification, for the players, the opportunity is more immediate.
A debut campaign that began with a historic appearance now offers a route to the biggest match in African women’s club football.