Rayon Sports activities WFC head coach Claude Rwaka has set an bold goal of surpassing final season's achievement and securing a spot on the CAF Girls's Champions League after his aspect found their opponents for the 2026 CECAFA qualifiers.
The draw, held in Kigali on July 30, positioned the Rwandan champions in Group A alongside South Sudan's Yei Joint Stars, Zanzibar's Mafunzo WFC and Eritrea's Denden FC.
The group presents a difficult however manageable route for the Blues, who will take pleasure in residence benefit when Kigali hosts the regional qualifiers from August 21-31.
“Our first goal is to qualify from the group stage,” Rwaka mentioned.
“We are going to take it one sport at a time and see how far we are able to go.”
Rayon Sports activities WFC head into the event with rising expectations after making historical past in 2025 by changing into the primary Rwandan ladies's membership to succeed in the ultimate of the CECAFA Girls's Champions League qualifiers.
Their outstanding marketing campaign led to heartbreak with a slender 1-0 defeat to Tanzania's JKT Queens within the remaining in Kenya, leaving them one victory away from qualifying for the CAF Girls's Champions League.
Rwaka believes that have has strengthened his workforce forward of this yr's marketing campaign.
“Our ambition is to transcend what we achieved final yr, however we now have to method each match with focus and warning,” he mentioned.
“It’s a robust competitors, however we’re internet hosting the event. With our followers and the help of all Rwandans behind us, we consider we are able to obtain one thing even higher.”
Taking part in on residence soil may present Rayon Sports activities WFC with a major benefit. Familiarity with the situations and the backing of native supporters are anticipated to spice up the workforce's confidence in a event that includes among the strongest ladies's golf equipment within the CECAFA area.
Ten groups representing Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zanzibar will compete for the area's lone ticket to the CAF Girls's Champions League.
In contrast to Teams B and C, which function a number of established regional powerhouses, Group A doesn’t embrace a former CECAFA champion, giving the hosts a practical alternative to complete prime of the group.
One other key power for Rayon Sports activities WFC is continuity. A number of gamers who featured in final yr's historic run stay within the squad, bringing priceless expertise from high-pressure regional competitors.
Having come inside one match of reaching the CAF Girls's Champions League, the gamers perceive what it takes to compete on the highest degree.
House help may additionally show decisive. Girls's soccer continues to develop in Rwanda, and robust backing at Amahoro Stadium could present the additional elevate Rayon Sports activities WFC want in intently contested matches.
Solely the winners of the Kigali qualifiers will safe CECAFA's sole place on the CAF Girls's Champions League, the place Africa's prime home champions will battle for continental glory.
