Vijago confident as Kenya Police Bullets chase CAF Champions League

Kenya Police Bullets will make a third attempt to qualify for the CAF Women’s Champions League through the Cecafa regional qualifiers in Rwanda. The FKF Women’s Premier League champions have twice fallen short of reaching the continental competition.

Their first appearance in the regional competition came in 2024, when they finished second after a 1-0 defeat by Ethiopia’s Commercial Bank of Ethiopia in the final. Last year, the Kenyan side reached the semi-finals on home soil but lost to Tanzania’s JKT in a penalty shootout.

Coach Rama Vijago has identified qualification as the missing achievement for his team. He believes the squad is ready to return to the qualifiers with the aim of securing a place among Africa’s leading women’s clubs.

Bullets have been drawn in Group C alongside Tanzanian club Simba Queens and Burundi’s Top Girls. Vijago regards both matches as demanding and expects his players to maintain their concentration throughout the campaign as they pursue positive results.

The Nairobi club has strengthened its squad before the qualifiers. Harambee Starlets forward Martha Amunyolet has joined from Vihiga Queens, while Alice Mideri and Airin Madalina are also new arrivals. Trinity Starlets players Eglay Mukhwana, Medina Abubakar and Lorna Nyabuto have completed the recruitment drive.

Vijago considers the new players capable of making a significant contribution once they settle into the team. He acknowledged that several arrived late and therefore had limited time to train with their new teammates, but said their quality and work ethic could help Bullets move closer to their target.

Vihiga Queens remain the only Kenyan club to have reached the CAF Women’s Champions League. They achieved that milestone in 2021, although they lost all three of their matches in Cairo against Mamelodi Sundowns, AS FAR Club and Rivers Angels.