Nairobi News

Kenyan international Corazon Aquino was the heroine as Simba Queens clinched the Council for East and Central Africa (Cecafa) regional qualifiers for the CAF Women Champions League trophy after edging out She Corporate of Uganda 1-0 at the Azam Complex Stadium in Dar Es Salaam Tanzania.

Aquino easily slotted home from the spot in the 47th minute past She Corporate Custodian Daffy Nyayenga.

This was after Asha Djafari was brought down inside the box leading to the penalty.

This was the fifth goal for Aquino in the tournament whose winner will represent the Cecafa region in the CAF Women Champions League slated for Morocco later in October and November.

Apart from lifting the trophy, Simba Queens also bagged Sh3 million. Ethiopian side and last edition runners up Central Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) beat AS Kigali 3-1 in the third play off staged at the same venue from 4pm

CBE were awarded Sh2 million while AS Kigali didn’t walk home empty handed as they were given Sh1 million.

Aquino also netted a double in Simba Queens 5-1 routing of AS Kigali on Wednesday in the semi finals. She also had a goal in the 2-0 win over She Corporate in Group B on August 16 and Yei Joints of South Sudan on August 20.

Former Vihiga Queens forward Topister Situma was roped in the 80th minute to replace Aisha Juma. Situma joined Simba Queens in July but has always started on the bench in the competition.

Vihiga Queens won the inaugural trophy in 2021 but Kenya was not represented this season as the country is still serving a Fifa ban since February due to the government interference with football activities.

Even though Kenya will not be represented by a club in this year’s tournament, Aquino and Situma’s presence will obviously offer solace.