CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA qualifiers to be held in Botswana in August

Botswana will welcome Southern Africa's leading women's clubs when Gaborone hosts the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA Qualifiers from 20–29 August 2026.

The tournament will determine the COSAFA representative at this year's CAF Women’s Champions League finals.

The official draw will take place on 21 July, when the participating clubs will discover their group stage opponents and route to the title.

The final line-up of teams will be confirmed on Wednesday, 15 July, for Member Associations to submit club licensing documentation in accordance with the CAF Club Licensing Regulations.

Botswana heads into this year's tournament as the home of the defending champions after Gaborone United were crowned 2025 COSAFA Qualifier champions. The hosts will be aiming to retain the regional title on home soil, while challengers from across Southern Africa look to secure qualification for Africa's premier women's club competition.

Since the launch of the CAF Women’s Champions League in 2021, the COSAFA Qualifier has become one of the region's flagship women's club competitions, consistently producing teams capable of competing with the continent's best.

South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies were crowned the inaugural COSAFA champions in 2021 before going on to lift the first-ever CAF Women’s Champions League title for the region.

Zambia's Green Buffaloes succeeded them in 2022, while Botswana's Double Action Ladies claimed the regional crown in 2023. University of the Western Cape restored the trophy to South Africa in 2024 before Gaborone United made history by becoming Botswana's second different club to win the competition in 2025.

With a place at the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League finals on the line, another fiercely contested regional tournament is expected as Southern Africa's leading clubs battle for the opportunity to represent COSAFA on the continental stage.