Police Bullets FC stormed into the final of the Cecafa Women’s Champions League qualifiers with a thrilling 3-2 victory over defending champions Simba Queens on Monday at the Abebe Bikila Stadium.
The win sets up a decisive showdown with either Uganda's Kawempe Muslim or Ethiopia's CBE, with a CAF Champions League spot on the line.
Lucy Kwekwe, Diana Wacera and Rebecca Okwaro were on target for the Kenyan champions, who faced a formidable Simba side that cruised to the semifinals unbeaten, boasting a 10-goal tally while conceding only two.
Simba captain Corazon Aquino, a Harambee Starlets midfielder, netted a brace but her efforts weren’t enough to save the Cecafa Women Club Championship holders from the ruthless Bullets.
Kwekwe opened the scoring in the 29th minute, pouncing on a goalkeeping error to put the law enforcers ahead. However, Simba quickly responded, with Aquino coolly finishing a cross to level the score. Aquino then struck again, beating her marker and slotting home just outside the box to give Simba the lead.
Undeterred, the Police fought back, restoring parity in the 60th minute through Wacera's powerful header, which connected with Lydia Akoth’s free-kick from the left. With just eight minutes left on the clock, Okwaro sealed the win for the Beldine Odemba-coached side, tapping in Wacera’s pass to send the Bullets through to the final.
The victory not only propels Police Bullets FC to the final but also comes a day after their male counterparts advanced to the Caf Confederation Cup’s second preliminary stage by defeating Ethiopian Coffee 1-0 in Addis Ababa.
"This win underlines our thirst for regional glory, which is unstoppable. We are now a powerhouse in the region. The march continues, towards more..." said Police FC executive chairman Nyale Munga, emphasising the club’s determination to secure a Caf Champions League berth.
