Agnes Nabukenya scored twice as Kawempe Muslim recovered from an early setback to beat AS FAR 3-2 on their Caf Women’s Champions League debut.
Kawempe Muslim Ladies began their Caf Women’s Champions League campaign with a statement victory, defeating defending champions AS FAR on Monday.
The Ugandan champions won 3-2 at Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia, Egypt, with Agnes Nabukenya delivering the decisive stoppage-time goal.
Uganda’s first representatives at the finals could hardly have chosen a better occasion to demonstrate their continental ambitions.
Nabukenya scored twice, while Shakirah Nyinagahirwa added Kawempe’s other goal in a Group B contest that swung dramatically after the interval.
AS FAR struck first after 6 minutes, Fatima Tagnaout beating goalkeeper Josephine Nambuya with a powerful left-footed effort.
The Moroccan side retained that advantage until half-time, leaving Kawempe needing a response against opponents accustomed to competing for continental honours.
Second-half turnaround
Kawempe found their equaliser in the 53rd minute when Nabukenya’s low shot from distance found the bottom corner.
Nyinagahirwa put them ahead 5 minutes later, advancing into the penalty area and beating the goalkeeper at the near post.
However, AS FAR recovered from that setback, with Doha El Madani converting a 69th-minute penalty to restore parity.
Kawempe still had another response. Latifa Nakasi released Nabukenya through on goal in stoppage time, and the forward finished to secure victory.
The late intervention rewarded a side that had overcome both an early deficit and the disappointment of surrendering its lead.
The result carried particular significance because AS FAR arrived with a record unmatched for consistency in the competition.
A victory against proven pedigree
Champions in 2022 and 2025, the Moroccan club had reached at least the semi-finals in all 5 previous editions.
They were also the only team to have appeared at every finals tournament since the competition began in 2021.
According to Caf’s pre-match statistics, AS FAR entered Monday’s encounter unbeaten in 8 group matches, recording 7 victories and 1 draw.
Kawempe’s victory ended that sequence and immediately strengthened their prospects of progressing from a group containing considerably more experienced opposition.
For coach Ayub Khalifa Kiyingi’s side, the performance also extended the confidence established during their successful Cecafa qualifying campaign.
Kawempe won all 4 matches in Kigali, scoring 13 goals without conceding, to secure Uganda’s first appearance at the finals.
They defeated Ethiopia’s Commercial Bank of Ethiopia twice, alongside an 8-0 victory over Djibouti’s FC Ujeco, before facing Kenya Police Bullets.
Nabukenya settled that final with a 100th-minute goal, making her decisive contribution against AS FAR another major moment in Kawempe’s continental journey.
Kawempe next face Ghana’s Ampem Darkoa on Thursday, November 5, before completing their group fixtures against Mali’s USFAS Bamako on Sunday, November 8.
With the top two progressing to the semi-finals, the Ugandan champions now have an encouraging foundation for their pursuit of knockout qualification.