CWCL 2025: Gaborone United Ladies FC and Herentals Queens Profiles
The CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifiers will be played in Johannesburg, South Africa from August 22-31.
There are a record 10 teams competing this year, up from the previous best year of eight, as more and more sides meet the stringent licensing regulations of CAF to take part.
Here are the profiles of two of the teams to take part, Gaborone United of Botswana and Herentals Queens from Zimbabwe.
GABORONE UNITED LADIES FC LOOK TO TURN SILVER INTO GOLD
Gaborone United Ladies FC were beaten finalists on debut last year and return to the CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifier in Johannesburg after the strong showing of compatriots Double Action Ladies in the first three editions.
Gaborone lost on penalties to the University of the Western Cape in last year’s decider having come oh so close to the regional crown with an excellent showing at the qualifiers in Blantyre, Malawi.
They topped their group after a thrilling 3-2 win over home side Ascent Academy, which followed draws with UD Lichinga from Mozambique (0-0) and Young Buffaloes of Eswatini (1-1).
That set up a semifinal with Herentals Queens from Zimbabwe, which Gaborone edged 1-0 thanks to a late winner from Yaone Modise.
They equalised in the final against UWC Ladies in the 1-1 draw, before going down 9-8 on penalties in a remarkable shoot-out in which there was only one miss.
Modise and Laone Moloi proved star names for the Botswana side, while Keitumetse Dithebe was also a star performer and named in the tournament’s Best XI along with defender Kesegofetse Mochawe.
This time round Gaborone are in Group B with Young Buffaloes and debutants Kick4Life from Lesotho.
TOURNAMENT FINISHES
2024 – Runner-Up
2023 – Did not qualify
2022 – Did not qualify
2021 – Did not qualify
| DATE | VENUE | OPPONENT | ROUND | RES | GOALSCORERS |
| 16-8-24 | Blantyre | UD Lichinga | Group Stage | 0-0 | – |
| 18-8-24 | Blantyre | Young Buffaloes | Group Stage | 1-1 | Modise |
| 20-8-24 |
Blantyre |
Ascent Academy |
Group Stage |
3-2 | Dithebe, Maponga, Moloi |
| 22-8-24 | Blantyre | Herentals Queens | Semifinals | 1-0 | Modise |
| 24-8-24 | Blantyre | UWC Ladies | Final | 1-1 | Moloi |
GOALSCORERS
2 goals – Modise, Moloi
1 goal – Dithebe, Maponga,
RECORDS AND SEQUENCES
Biggest win: 3-2 vs Ascent Academy (2024); 1-0 vs Herentals Queens (2024)
Heaviest defeat: –
Highest scoring match: 3-2 vs Ascent Academy (2024)
Longest winning run: 2 games (from 20-08-24 to 22-08-24)
Longest losing run: –
Longest unbeaten run: 5 games (16-08-24 to present)
Longest run without a win: 2 games (from 16-08-24 to 18-08-24)
Total clean sheets: 2 matches (40%)
Total failed to score: 1 match (20%)
Most goals scored in a competition: 6 (2024)
Most goals conceded in a competition: 4 (2024)
Group stage wins: 1 out of 3 (33%)
Knockout stage wins: 1 out of 2 (50%)
HERENTALS QUEENS CONFIDENT OF TRIUMPH IN REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Herentals Queens will compete at the CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifier for the second time in as many years when they travel to Johannesburg.
They are the second team from Zimbabwe overall after Black Rhinos Queens made the final of the inaugural regional championship four years ago, but missed out on qualification to the continental finals when they were beaten by South African side Mamelodi Sundowns in the decider.
Queens reached the semifinals on debut last year but lost 1-0 to Gaborone United.
This time round they face Mozambique’s Costa do Sol and Olympic de Moroni from Comoros in Group C.
They won the Zimbabwe domestic league last year following a late surge in form after they had seemed out the running.
“This has been a tough season, and we had literally surrendered everything to fate,” forward Praynance Zvawanda was quoted by HeraldOnline.
“The league is very competitive, with both Chapungu and Black Rhinos giving us all sorts of trouble. It could have gone any direction, but we remained focused and concentrated on what we could do as Herentals Queens.
“That’s what we did, and here we are. Credit goes to our bosses, especially Wadzanai Loveness Mukura, for her leadership qualities. It’s a victory for all the students and everyone associated with Herentals Queens.”
They started their campaign last year with a 3-1 victory over Ongos SC from Namibia, before a 1-0 win over 2022 champions Green Buffaloes showed all their potential.
They lost their final pool match 1-0 to eventual champions UWC Ladies from South Africa.
They could not get past the semifinals with that narrow defeat to Gaborone United, but showed they will certainly be one of the top sides again in Johannesburg.
TOURNAMENT FINISHES
2024 – Semifinals
2023 – Did not qualify
2022 – Did not qualify
2021 – Did not qualify
| DATE | VENUE | OPPONENT | ROUND | RES | GOALSCORERS |
| 15-8-24 | Blantyre | Ongos SC | Group Stage | 3-1 | Mafuruse, Tumbare, Chikore |
| 17-8-24 | Blantyre | Green Buffaloes | Group Stage | 1-0 | Mafuruse |
| 19-8-24 | Blantyre | UWC Ladies | Group Stage | 1-2 | Moyo |
| 22-8-24 | Blantyre | Gaborone United | Semifinals | 0-1 | – |
GOALSCORERS
2 goals – Mafuruse
1 goal – Chikore, Moyo, Tumbare
RECORDS AND SEQUENCES
Biggest win: 3-1 vs Ongos SC (2024)
Heaviest defeat: 1-2 vs UWC Ladies (2024); 0-1 vs Gaborone United (2024)
Highest scoring match: 3-1 vs Ongos SC (2024)
Longest winning run: 2 games (15-08-24 to 17-08-24)
Longest losing run: 2 games (from 19-08-24 to 22-08-24)
Longest unbeaten run: 2 games (15-08-24 to 17-08-24)
Longest run without a win: 2 games (from 19-08-24 to 22-08-24)
Total clean sheets: 1 match (25%)
Total failed to score: 1 match (25%)
Most goals scored in a competition: 5 (2024)
Most goals conceded in a competition: 4 (2024)
Group stage wins: 2 out of 4 (50%)
Knockout stage wins: 1 out of 1 (0%)