As the final phase of the TotalEnergies CAF Women's Champions League is fast approaching, CAFOnline.com takes a look at the qualifying rounds of the teams involved.
The final competition is scheduled to be held from October 30 to November 13 in Morocco and will feature five first-timers among the eight competing clubs, including host AS FAR.
In fulfilment of its promise, CAF moved to boost investment and provide rewarding opportunities for the women's game, by announcing substantial financial rewards for this yearโs edition.
After a 150% increment in the TotalEnergies Women's Africa Cup of Nations prize money, the winner of the 2022 CAF WCL, will receive $400,000 while the runner-up will get $250,000 for their efforts.
After hard-fought qualifying tournaments that created upsets and memories, CAFOnline.com recaps very briefly how the finalists, who joined host club AS FAR, had emerged from their zones. Six zonal qualifiers produced 160 goals and CECAFA's CBE striker Loza Abera from Ethiopia emerged as the overall top scorer with 11 goals.
FINALISTS
SIMBA QUEENS - CECAFA
The Reds of Msimbazi are the sole CECAFA representatives that qualified for the Women's Champions League to be held in Morocco. It will also be the Tanzanian champions' first-ever outing to the competition.
GROUP STAGE
GRFC [Djibouti] 0-6 Simba Queens
Simba Queens 2-0 She Corporate [Uganda]
Simba Queens 4-0 Yei Joint Stars [South Sudan]
SEMI-FINAL
Simba Queens 5-1 AS Kigali [Rwanda]
FINAL
Simba Queens 1-0 She Corporate [Uganda]
BAYELSA QUEENS - WAFU ZONE B
The Prosperity ladies are another first-timer for the eight-club championship and the Nigerians will be the only representative from the West African zone B for this year's edition.
GROUP STAGE
Athleta FC [Togo] 0-5 Bayelsa Queens
Bayelsa Queens 0-0 Ampem Darkoa [Ghana]
Bayelsa Queens 3-1 USFA [Burkina Faso]
SEMI-FINAL
Bayelsa Queens 6-0 Espoir FC [Benin Republic]
FINAL
Bayelsa Queens 3-0 Ampem Darkoa [Ghana]
DETERMINE GIRLS - WAFU ZONE A
The Liberian giants are also newcomers to the continent's club showpiece after a stunning regional success in the West African Zone A qualifiers. They emerged sole candidate from the region after edging last year's WAFU A representative AS Mande.
Determine Girls 1-1 AS Mande [Mali]
Determine Girls 1-0 USPA [Senegal]
GREEN BUFFALOES - COSAFA
The Zambian Army ladies upset the odds, silencing former holders and the continent's inaugural winners Mamelodi Sundowns to emerge champions of the Southern African region. For this feat, the Zambian queens will be one of the two clubs representing COSAFA and are making their first-ever appearance in the finals.
GROUP STAGE
Young Buffaloes [Eswatini] 0-4 Green Buffaloes
Green Buffaloes 4-0 Olympic de Moroni [Comoros]
FINAL
Green Buffaloes 0-0 [6-5APK] Mamelodi Sundowns [South Africa]
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS - COSAFA
Masandwana earned their qualification ticket automatically as the defending champions of the competition. Despite surrendering the COSAFA title this year, the South African champions still have a chance to retain their continental crown, on North African soil again.
GROUP STAGE
Mamelodi Sundowns 8-1 CD Costa do Sol [Mozambique]
Mamelodi Sundowns 1-1 Double Actions Ladies [Botswana]
FINAL
Green Buffaloes 0-0 [6-5 APK] Mamelodi Sundowns [South Africa]
WADI DEGLA - UNAF [North Africa]
The Egyptian winners will compete as North African champions this year after featuring in the inaugural edition, as the hosts. The Cairo-based club will aim to replicate their UNAF qualification success in the finals, again on the same Moroccan soil.
Wadi Degla 2-0 Afak Relizane [Algeria]
AS Banque de l'Habitat [Tunisia] 0-2 Wadi Degla
TP MAZEMBE - UNIFFAC [Central Africa]
The Democratic Republic of Congo champions pulled off a strong performance to edge favourites from Cameroon and holders from Equatorial Guinea for a maiden qualification. As Central African champions, the Congolese will be seeking to continue their fairytale run on the continent, in Morocco.
GROUP STAGE
CECUS FC [Chad]0-4 TP Mazembe
AS Awa FC [Cameroon] 0-1 TP Mazembe
FINAL
AS Awa FC [Cameroon] 1-2 TP Mazembe
