CAF Women's Champions League: Everything you need to know about the COSAFA qualifiers
With the West African qualifiers now done and dusted, the focus now shifts to Southern Africa and COSAFA's qualifiers for the 2024 CAF Women's Champions League. Defending champions, Mamelodi Sundowns, have automatically qualified and will not feature in the qualifiers set to take place between 15 – 24 August in Blantyre, Malawi.
Venue:
All matches will take place at the Mpria Stadium in Blantyre, Malawi.
Participating Teams:
- University of Western Cape (South Africa)
- Green Buffaloes (Zambia)
- Herentals Queens (Zimbabwe)
- FC Ongos (Namibia)
- Gaborone United (Botswana)
- União Desportiva de Lichinga (Mozambique)
- Ascent Soccer Academy (Malawi)
- Young Buffaloes (Eswatini)
Tournament Format:
The eight participating teams are divided into two separate groups. Teams will receive three points for a win, one point for a draw and no points for a loss. The top two teams with the most points in each group will advance to the semi-finals.
Groups
Group A
University of Western Cape (South Africa), Green Buffaloes (Zambia), Herentals Queens (Zimbabwe), FC Ongos (Namibia)
Group B
Gaborone United (Botswana), União Desportiva de Lichinga (Mozambique), Ascent Soccer Academy (Malawi), Young Buffaloes (Eswatini).
Tournament Schedule (Local Times)
15/08
Herentals - FC Ongos, 12h00, Stade Mpira
University of Western Cape - Green Buffaloes, 15h00, Stade Mpira
16/08
Gaborone United Ladies - UD Lichinga, 12h00, Stade Mpira
Ascent Academy - Young Buffaloes, 15h00, Stade Mpira
17/08
Green Buffaloes - Herentals Queens, 12h00, Stade Mpira
University of Western Cape - FC Ongos, 15h00, Stade Mpira
18/08
Gaborone United - Young Buffaloes, 12h00, Stade Mpira
UD Lichinga - Ascent Academy, 15h00, stade Mpira
19/08
FC Ongos - Green Buffaloes, 12h00, Stade Mpira
University of Western Cape - Herentals Queen, 15h00, Stade Mpira
20/08
Young Buffaloes - UD Lichinga, 12h00, Stade Mpira
Gaborone United - Ascent Academy, 15H00, Stade Mpira
22/08
Semi-Final
1st in Group A - 2nd in Group B, 12:00, Mpira Stadium
2nd in Group A - 1st in Group B, 15:00, Mpira Stadium
Final
24/08
Winner of the 1st semi-final - Winner of the 2nd semi-final
Participating Teams:
University of Western Cape (South Africa)
The University of the Western Cape Women's Football Club, also known as UWC Ladies F.C., represents this university located in Bellville, Western Cape province. The first team competes in the SAFA Women's League, the largest women's football league in South Africa. UWC won the university championship in 2021 and 2023. UWC became the first university to qualify for the Champions League qualifiers after it was confirmed in July 2024, that the second-placed team in the 2023 SAFA Women's League would represent South Africa in the 2024 COSAFA Women's Champions League.
Honours:
South African Championship: Runner-up in 2022 and 2023
Green Buffaloes (Zambia)
Green Buffaloes Women's Football Club is affiliated to the men's club of Green Buffaloes and has its headquarters in Lusaka. The club competes in the FAZ Women's Super-Division, which is the highest division of women's football in Zambia. Domestically, the Green Buffaloes have set an impressive record of 12 trophies - 7 in the Lusaka League and 5 in the Zambian National Championship.
Their dominance continued in women's football, with the first two Super Division titles in 2020 and 2021, which saw them qualify for the first two editions of the COSAFA Women's Champions League. After reaching the semi-finals of the first edition, the Green Buffaloes won the title in 2022, earning them a place in the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League.
Honours:
Zambian Championship Winner: 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
COSAFA Women’s Champions League Winner :2022
Herentals Queens (Zimbabwe)
Herentals Queens were crowned Zambian champions for the second year in a row, Their title win will see them participate in the qualifiers for the first time ever, becoming only the second Zimbabwean club to take part, after Black Rhinos Queens FC in 2021.
Honours:
Zimbabwe Championship Winner in 2023 and 2024
FC Ongos (Namibia)
Previously known as TURA Magic, the club was acquired in 2023 and changed its name. Despite the name change, this is the same team that participated in the first regional qualifying round in 2021, but was eliminated in the first round without scoring a single goal.
Honours:
Namibian Championship Winner in 2021 and 2024
Gaborone United (Botswana)
Gaborone United will make their debut in the qualifiers with the hope of building on the good results of fellow Botswana side, Double Action Ladies in the last three editions.
Despite this being their first appearance, coach William "Raizor" Monene has already competed in the regional competition with Double Action where he finished as runners-up.
Honours:
Botswana Championship Winner: 2024
União Desportiva de Lichinga (Mozambique)
Union Sportive de Lichinga makes its historic debut in the qualifiers this season. This is the third year in a row that a Mozambican club has taken part, with Costa do Sol having been the country's representative in 2022 and 2023.
The 2-1 victory against Costa do Sol in the final of the national championship in December 2023 allowed them to qualify for this regional competition. Lichinga's squad has several players who represented Mozambique at the 2023 COSAFA Women's Championship, including forwards Cina Manuel and Esmeralda Davide, as well as defender Virgínia Fernando, all of whom have played vital roles at the club in recent times.
Honours:
Mozambique Championship Winner : 2024
Ascent Soccer Academy (Malawi)
Although the club is based in Lilongwe, there is no denying that it will receive the support of Malawian fans from the stands in Blantyre. Established a decade ago as Chigoli Academy, this team has set itself apart from the majority of other teams in the country by making a significant contribution to the development of the next generation of female football players, some of whom have now joined the national team.
Ascent clinched their spot in the qualifiers following a 1-0 win over the MDF Lionesses in the final of the 2024 Senior Women's National Championship. This is an outstanding achievement considering the fact that the team was made up of players whose average age was only 18 years old.
Honours:
Malawi Championship Winner: 2024
Young Buffaloes (Eswatini)
Young Buffaloes will participate in the CAF Women's Champions League qualifiers for the third consecutive year and will try to build on the first point obtained last season. Eliminated in the first round in their two participations, Young Buffaloes are aiming for the last four of the competition this year.
Honours:
Eswatini Championship Winner: 2024
Previous COSAFA Qualifier Winners:
- 2023 Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
- 2022 Green Buffaloes (Zambia)
- 2021 Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
Top Scorers
2023
- Lelona Daweti (South Africa - Mamelodi Sundowns) 3 goals
- Andisiwe Mgcoyi (South Africa - Mamelodi Sundowns) 3 goals
- Tiisetso Makhubela (South Africa - Mamelodi Sundowns) 3 goals
- Chuene Morifi (South Africa - Mamelodi Sundowns) 3 goals
- Lesego Radiakanyo (Botswana - Double Action) 3 goals
- Gaonyadiwe Ontlametse (Botswana - Double Action) 3 goals
2022
Ireen Lungu (Zambie - Green Buffaloes) 5 goals
2021
Melinda Kgadiete (South Africa - Mamelodi Sundowns) 5 goals