CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifier set for Malawi

The CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifier 2024 will take place in Blantyre, Malawi, this year from August 15-24, with the winner to advance to the showpiece continental finals.

Two-time CAF Women’s Champions League winners and current holders Mamelodi Sundowns have qualified automatically for the defence of their African title, so will not appear in the COSAFA tournament this year.

It does mean that the Southern African region will have two teams at the continental finals, Sundowns and the winning side from the qualifiers in Malawi.

Sundowns won South Africa’s HOLLYWOODBETS Super League in the 2023 season, so their place in the COSAFA qualifiers is taken by runners-up University of the Western Cape, who debut in the regional tournament.

It was the third year in a row that UWC had finished runners-up to The Brazilians, so the Cape Town club will relish their chance for continental glory.
Only three teams will be returning for another shot at winning the CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifier, though one is a past champion.

Green Buffaloes from Zambia lifted the trophy in 2022 when they beat Sundowns on penalties in the final and will be among the favourites for a repeat performance.

They will appear for the fourth year in a row having made the semifinals at least on every occasion.

Young Buffaloes from Eswatini are another side who return and will compete for a third time in four years. They have gone out in the group stages in the last two years.

Namibia’s Ongos FC return for their second shot at the title, though under a different name. When they first competed in 2021, they were known as TURA Magic.

They lost both games without scoring a goal three years ago, so will hope for a better return this time round.

Malawi’s Ascent Soccer Academy, which has been a great source of national team talent in recent years, will hope to use homeground advantage to their benefit when they make their debut.

They will be the second Malawian side to play in the competition after Ntopwa FC in 2023, who exited at the first stage.

Herentals Queens will become the second Zimbabwean side to compete after Black Rhinos Queens on the inaugural tournament in 2021.

Herentals had been on a two-year 38-game unbeaten streak until this month when they lost 1-0 to, ironically, Black Rhinos Queens. They will clearly be a tough opponent.

Gaborone United will also debut in the tournament after Double Action Ladies had represented Botswana in the first three years.

Double Action reached the semifinals in all three years, and the final in 2023 where they lost to Sundowns, proving just how competitive teams from Botswana are.

União Desportiva de Lichinga will become the second club from Mozambique to compete after CD Costa do Sol finished third in 2023 having beaten fancied Green Buffaloes in the bronze medal match.

The eight teams will be drawn into two pools of four clubs each, with the top two in each group advancing to the semifinals.

Only the winner earns a place at the finals to join Sundowns as representatives from the Southern African region.

 

CAF WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE | COSAFA QUALIFIER PAST WINNERS
2021 – Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
2022 – Green Buffaloes (Zambia)
2023 – Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)