By 
Kampala Queens’ bid to reach their first-ever final in the CAF Women’s Champions League qualifiers ended in heartbreak after a nerve wracking penalty shootout loss to Rwanda’s Rayon Sports Women at the Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi on Sunday, September 14, 2025.
In what was their second attempt to break into the final of the regional qualifiers, Uganda’s top women’s football side fell just short, bowing out 4-3 on penalties after a goalless stalemate across 120 tense minutes in the first semifinal.
Led by coach Charles Asefa, Kampala Queens entered the tournament with renewed confidence and high expectations. Their semifinal against Rayon Sports was a tightly contested affair, characterized by strong defensive organization and few clear-cut chances from either side.
Both teams displayed remarkable discipline at the back, with goalkeepers on either end especially Kampala Queens’ shot-stopper producing critical saves to keep the game deadlocked through regulation and extra time. The Queens pressed hard in the additional 30 minutes, showing signs of fatigue but also flashes of attacking urgency. However, their struggle in the final third continued, as they failed to convert pressure into goals.
With the final spot at stake, the semifinal was ultimately decided from the penalty spot. Kampala Queens saw Teddy Najjuma, Shakira Nakwanga, and Joanita Ainembabazi successfully convert their attempts, but the misses from Catherine Nagadya and Zaituni Namaganda proved costly.
Rayon Sports, clinical and composed, edged the shootout 4-3 to book their place in the final, where they await the winner between Tanzania’s JKT and Kenya Bullets.
Though Kampala Queens’ dream of CAF Women’s Champions League glory has ended for this year, the journey is not entirely over. They will now regroup to fight for the bronze medal against the loser of the JKT vs. Kenya Bullets semifinal in the third-place playoff.
Beyond this tournament, the Queens are expected to shift focus to domestic football, returning to Kampala to prepare for the 2025–2026 season of the Financial Trust Bank FUFA Women’s Super League. With this year’s continental experience under their belt, the team will aim to build on the lessons learned and return stronger.
Despite the disappointment, Kampala Queens’ performance in Nairobi confirms their growing status as one of East Africa’s most competitive women’s football clubs. Their resilience, defensive solidity, and continued qualification for the latter stages of the CAF regional qualifiers are signs of a bright future.
As they turn their attention back home, the Kampala Queens carry not just the pain of missed opportunity but also the promise of potential yet to be fulfilled.
