Denden becomes first Eritrean club to participate in CAFWCL qualifying

Eritrean Women Super Division champions Denden SC will make history as they prepare to participate in CECAFA’s zonal qualifying tournament for the CAF Women Champions League (CAFWCL). The military side will become the first team from Eritrea to take part in the zonal qualifier, slated for September 4-16 in Nairobi, Kenya.

Eritrea’s Denden SC for CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA qualifiershttps://t.co/miLy4s5XaS pic.twitter.com/05FEgrjYjH

— Cecafaonline (@Cecafaonline) August 15, 2025

CECAFA executive director Auka Gecheo said Denden have got a greenlight from CAF to participate in the zonal qualifier. “We are pleased that for the first time a team from Eritrea will feature in the Zonal qualifiers.”

Eritrean teams have been skipping continental and zonal matches due to restrictions imposed by the government over the fear of players deserting in mass. Recently the senior men’s national side played a friendly game against Niger ‘A’ side and now Denden is allowed to play in qualifying.

According to CECAFA, nine teams are expected to participate in the zonal qualifying tournament. Ethiopian side Commercial Bank of Ethiopia are the defending champions.

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