The national women’s football league has been scheduled to start after the 4th edition of the Championship of African Nations (CHAN), slated for January 16- February 6, 2016 in Rwanda.

The development was confirmed by the head of women’s football in the Rwandan football governing body, FEFRWAFA, Felicite Rwemalika. The league was initially set to kick-off in the first week of January.

"The whole country wants to focus on CHAN, that is where we all need to put our effort to make a total success, so, we found it distracting if the women’s league starts nearly at the same time as the (CHAN) tournament,” Rwemalika told Times Sport.

She also disclosed that all league participants need to acquire legal status provided by Rwanda Governance Board (RGB).

This year’s league ended in June and was claimed by Grace Nyinawumuntu’s AS Kigali for a record seventh consecutive time with 50 points. Kamonyi trailed champions by 8 points in the second position while Huye-based Les Lionnes finished third with 39 points.

The 4th CHAN will be contested by 12 countries drawn into four different pools, and Johnny McKinstry’s Amavubi Stars are in pool A alongside Ivory Coast, Morocco and Gabon.

Pool B includes DR Congo, Angola, Cameroun, and Ethiopia. Tunisia, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and Niger are drawn in pool C while pool D is comprised of Zimbabwe, Mali, Uganda and Zambia.

The opening game will see hosts Rwanda face the Elephants of Ivory Coast on January 16 at Amahoro national stadium.

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