CAF Women’s Champions League qualifiers fever grips Nairobi as Kenya Police Bullets square up with Tanzania’s JKT Queens in a blockbuster semifinal at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani. The tie has all the ingredients of a final before the final, two regional heavyweights, a vocal home crowd, and a place in the showpiece within touching distance.
There is a sense of inevitability about these two colliding at this stage. Both marched through the group phase with purpose, and both carry the aura of teams that believe they belong on the continental stage. For the Bullets, this is about momentum and seizing a moment in their own backyard. For JKT Queens, this is about pedigree and proving that champions can triumph anywhere.
Why this semifinal feels like a final
Many observers expected Kenya Police Bullets and JKT Queens to meet at the very end, only for the draw to bring the narrative forward by one step. The stakes are clear, a place in the CECAFA regional final, a statement to the rest of Africa, and the right to dream bigger.
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History offers a thread to hold. Vihiga Queens set the Kenyan benchmark when they won the inaugural regional crown four years ago, and the hosts are eager to follow that path. On the opposite touchline, JKT arrive with the authority of **2023 champions**, a tag that travels with expectation and steely calm.
Paths to the last four
Kenya Police Bullets may be new to this particular spotlight, but their route has been convincing. They edged Kampala Queens 1-0 on opening day, then raised the level with a 2-0 victory over Denden to seal a perfect record. It was a strong warning shot, and it was delivered at just the right time.
That second win offered a glimpse of end-product. Emily Moranga and Zaina Namuleme found the net against Denden, a timely reminder that the Bullets can share responsibility in the final third, and that they can manage games with maturity when the margins are fine.
JKT Queens traveled a parallel road, and they did it with the cool head of seasoned operators. They took care of JKU Princess of Zanzibar, then outlasted Yei Joint Stars of South Sudan, a match where they only needed a draw yet produced a more incisive second half to score twice after a barren first period.
Head coach Azishi Kondo framed that performance as a product of composure and team play. He urged his players to pass with a purpose rather than chase individual glory, the response was swift, and the goals followed at the right moments.
Voices from the touchline
It will be a great tactical game and we believe that to be a big team, you have to play and win against big teams. We knew we will meet them at some point, and so we will prepare well for them, and are confident for a win, said JKT head coach Azishi Kondo after the win over Yei Joint Stars.
Kondo doubled down on the eve of the match, noting that JKT had prepared specifically for this clash, an admission that underlines both respect and **self-belief**. For a side with their track record, such clarity can be a weapon.
We have prepared as a team from the start, aiming for a strong beginning and a strong finish. We respect our opponents, but there are no easy games in this competition. We are ready, and tomorrow will show, said Kenya Police Bullets head coach Beldine Odemba.
Odemba’s message has been consistent, pride in the clean group campaign and a sharp reminder that chance creation must be matched by ruthless finishing. After the 2-0 against Denden, she lamented missed opportunities and promised to sharpen the edge in training, an honesty that resonates with players and fans alike.
It is a bit challenging, playing at home with the fans’ pressure to win. Tomorrow’s match will be very competitive, but I will do my best not to concede. I want to use my experience to guide my defenders so we can push for the Golden Glove together, said captain and goalkeeper Annedy Kundu.
Kundu’s words tap into the human heartbeat of tournament football. The goalkeeper’s domain is built on silence and certainty, and her leadership will be crucial in moments when the game becomes frantic and **emotion** threatens to override shape.
Tactical threads to watch
This matchup promises tight margins. Kenya Police Bullets have shown a capacity to manage tempo, to protect a lead, and to strike when the chance appears. The contributions from Moranga and Namuleme underscore a useful spread of goals, and the hosts will lean on that variety to find gaps in JKT’s defensive lines.
JKT Queens, veterans of tournament pressure, tend to grow into games. The improved second half against Yei Joint Stars was less about raw power and more about timing, patience, and coordinated movement. If they establish rhythm in midfield, they can pin opponents back and force **mistakes** in dangerous zones.
The set-piece battle will likely loom large. In cagey semifinals, dead-ball moments often tilt the balance, and with both sides organized and physically committed, the first contact on corners and free kicks could decide which net ripples.
The power and burden of home
Kasarani will be loud, and that noise cuts both ways. For the Bullets, energy from the stands can feel like wind in the sails. For JKT, it becomes a test of calm, a chance to silence the crowd and impose their rhythm early.
Support will be plentiful, and for good reason. The regional tournament is in Nairobi, and the National Police Service has rallied behind the team, urging Kenyans to fill the stands and back the squad. With **free entry** for the semifinal, the stage is set for a grand football afternoon that celebrates the women’s game.
Context that matters
Kenya Police Bullets’ presence here is the culmination of a rise that accelerated with their triumph in the 2024–25 FKF Women’s Premier League. Their selection as Kenya’s flag-bearers placed them at the heart of a home tournament spread across the city, with Kasarani now the focal point for a contest that could define their season.
There is also a broader thread running through the region. The first-ever meeting of these sides in this competition adds freshness to the rivalry, and the outcome will ripple across supporter bases that have watched both clubs grow into standard-bearers in East and Central Africa. The winner steps into a final where confidence and **continuity** become priceless commodities.
What is at stake
Everything about semifinal football is sharpened. The reward is tangible, a place in the final, the platform to write new history, and the validation that comes from beating a top contender. Lose, and the what-ifs linger long after the final whistle.
The first semifinal between Rayon Sports and Kampala Queens, scheduled earlier in the day at Kasarani, adds a scouting layer for both camps. Minutes watched from the stands can feed into last-minute tweaks, but nothing will matter more than execution when the whistle goes at 3.30 p.m. local time.
Keys to the contest
- control of transitions, the team that manages the first pass after regains will create the better chances,
- efficiency in front of goal, both coaches have spoken about composure in the final third,
- goalkeeping focus, Kundu’s leadership and JKT’s shot-stopping must hold firm.
Players and units under the spotlight
For the hosts, Moranga and Namuleme arrive with confidence from the group stage. Their movement between the lines and timing in the box will test the JKT backline, particularly if the Bullets can stretch play and deliver early service.
JKT’s collective, from a disciplined midfield platform to quick combinations in attack, thrives on structure. Their second-half surge in the final group game was a reminder that patience can be as dangerous as pace, and that a single **lapse** can turn a tight game.
At the back, the Bullets will look to Kundu to organize and to be aggressive in claiming crosses, crucial in denying second balls that often lead to scrappy goals in high-stakes fixtures. Clear communication will reduce panic, and it will free the fullbacks to engage at the right times.
What the occasion means for Kenyan football
There is pride at stake for the hosts, but there is also a vision. The Bullets’ surge in the domestic league, followed by a confident showing in the group stage, paints a picture of a program on the rise. A place in the final would echo Vihiga Queens’ breakthrough, and it would feed a pipeline of **belief** across academies and community clubs.
For the CECAFA region, this semifinal underscores depth and competition. Matches of this quality ignite interest, attract new fans, and elevate standards. Amid all the emotion, it remains a celebration of the women’s game and the athletes who carry it forward.
Match essentials
- date and time, Sunday 14 September, kick-off at 3.30 p.m. EAT,
- venue, Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani,
- fans, free entry as confirmed by CECAFA.
Earlier at 12.30 p.m., Rayon Sports face Kampala Queens in the other semifinal, also at Kasarani. The winners will return for the final with the regional crown on the line, and for Kenya Police Bullets vs JKT Queens, the road to that stage is now down to ninety minutes of nerve and execution.
The last word
Semifinals reveal character. Kenya Police Bullets carry the surge of home support and a perfect group run, JKT Queens bring the savvy of recent champions and the calm that comes with big nights. It will be tight, it will be fiery, and it will be decided by small details, the kind that define careers and shape club histories.
When the teams step out at Kasarani, the noise will rise and the narratives will collide. Then the ball will roll, and all that will matter is who can find clarity in the chaos, who can turn pressure into poise, and who can write the next line in this compelling **CECAFA** story.
