Police Bullets 90 minutes away from grabbing historic Cecafa zone semi-final slot

Police Bullets FC are close to a historic CAF Women’s Champions League zonal qualifiers semi-final in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The Kenya Women Premier League champions beat Rayon Sports Women FC 1-0  courtesy of Purity Anyetu’s seventh-minute goal at Abebe Bikila Stadium to stay in pole position for the last four.

Their debutant victory in the Continental qualifiers means they only need at least a draw against the Central Bank of Ethiopia tomorrow to qualify for the semis. 

Beldine Odemba’s charges drew 0-0 with South Sudan’s Yei Joint Stars on Sunday before overcoming Rayon yesterday.

Odemba said the match was tough, and getting the early goal helped cool their nerves.

“Rayon displayed a good game and they proved to be worthy opponents. I would like to commend my players for a good job, on to the next one we recover and strategize tomorrow against hosts Central Bank in a different game altogether considering they are at home,” added Odemba

The debutants will seek to emulate Vihiga Queens, who won the tournament and qualified for the inaugural 2021 CAF Women’s Champions League, in Cairo, Egypt.

Queens finished bottom in a tough pool B comprising Mamelodi Sundowns,  ASFAR Women of Morocco and River Angels of Nigeria.

Bullets are second in group A with four points, two behind tomorrow’s opponents, CBE who have six points. Yei is third with one point, while Rayon is bottom with zero.

If the Bullets win the pool, they are likely to face Uganda’s Kawempe Muslim who are second in pool B, but if they finish second Tanzania side Simba Queens will stand on their way to the finals.

The finals winner grabs the sole ticket from the CECAFA zone, joining five zone winners (WAFU A), (WAFU B),  (COSAFA),  (UNIFFAC) and  (UNAF) zones.

Defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa have already booked their ticket to the African elite women's football tournament.

Meanwhile, H.E. Amb. George M. Orina led the Kenyan Diaspora in Ethiopia in supporting Kenya Police Bullets FC, before hosting them for dinner at his residence in Addis.

Orina encouraged the players to continue being exemplary ambassadors and wished them success against Ethiopia’s CBE WFC tomorrow.