CWCL 2025: Beauties FC 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, debutants Beauties FC from Namibia and Costa do sol from Mozambique.
BEAUTIES FC FACE BEAST OF A GROUP ON DEBUT
Namibia’s Beauties FC have been drawn into the Group of Death at the CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifiers, and will take on two-time winners Mamelodi Sundowns FC, Ntopwa FC from Malawi and Zesco Ndola Girls of Zambia in a tough pool.
But for the side from Okahandja, just competing at this level already gives them the feeling of winners, with their place earned by claiming the Namibia Women’s Super League in the 2024/25 season, a 13th national title.
They are lead by former Namibia international Salome Iiyambo, who is both owner and coach of the side, though she will not be on the bench in Johannesburg as she has yet to obtain the necessary CAF qualifications, something she is working towards.
“It’s more than just a draw; it’s a real test of our strength, our character, and our ambition,” Iiyambo said. “We respect all our opponents, they each have a rich history, but we do not fear anyone. We might be debutants and considered underdogs, but we are ready to fight. Let the battle begin.”
Iiyambo says her squad is a good mix of younger and more experienced players.
“COSAFA allows us to bring 21 players, and in our squad we have both youth and experience,” she says. “In fact, we have one of the oldest players in the Namibian league, over 40, who brings invaluable guidance on the field. At the other end, our youngest player is just 15 years old, with two or three others in that age range.
“We also have a few with international experience. Overall, it’s a team full of life, ready to fight and stand together.”
The owner/coach also explains the history of the side since its formation 22 years ago.
“Beauties FC was formed in 2003 from the merger of two secondary schools in two districts, originally called Okahandja Beauties. We quickly rose to prominence, winning everything in the national league until 2011.
“After that, there was a brief decline, we even lost to our junior team in 2012, and then football came to a standstill for a while. We returned after COVID but didn’t win anything until now.
“This club has always been known for agility, resilience, and producing national team players. In the past, eight or nine of the (national team) starting 11 might have been from Beauties. I took over in 2015 after returning from studies in Europe.”
COSTA DO SOL HOPE SUN SHINES ON THEIR CAMPAIGN
Costa do Sol return for a third year running at the CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifiers having last competed in 2023 and will look to improve on their third place finish two years ago.
This time round they have been drawn in Group C with Herentals Queens from Zimbabwe and Olympic de Moroni of Comoros, giving them an opportunity perhaps to advance to the semifinals again.
They debuted in 2022, but it was a tough introduction to the regional competition for the side from Mozambique.
They were in Group A along with home favourites Mamelodi Sundowns, who beat them 8-1 in the opener. But Costa do Sol improved in their second match, showing much more fight and organisation as they went down 2-0 to Double Action Ladies from Botswana.
A year later they were back and showed much more quality as they finished runners-up in their pool.
They started with a 2-1 win over Young Buffaloes from Eswatini, before defeating Olympic de Moroni by the same scoreline. They will meet the latter again this year.
Their final pool game was a 4-0 loss to Sundowns, but they had done enough to book a semifinal. There they lost 2-0 to Double Action Ladies, but they edged defending champions Green Buffaloes from Zambia 2-1 to take the bronze medal.
They did not qualify in 2024, but have several players with good memories of success in this competition and will bring this experience into the competition.
TOURNAMENT FINISHES
2024 – Did not qualify
2023 – Third
2022 – Group Stage
2021 – Did not enter
| DATE | VENUE | OPPONENT | ROUND | RES | GOALSCORERS |
| 7-8-22 | Durban | Mamelodi Sundowns | Group Stage | 1-8 | Ninika pen |
| 11-8-22 | Durban | Double Action Ladies | Group Stage | 0-2 | – |
| 31-8-23 | Durban | Young Buffaloes | Group Stage | 2-1 | Janeiro, Goia pen |
| 2-9-23 | Durban | Olympic de Moroni | Group Stage | 2-1 | Goia, Maconho |
| 4-9-23 | Durban | Mamelodi Sundowns | Group Stage | 0-4 | – |
| 6-9-23 | Durban | Double Action Ladies | Semi-Final | 0-2 | – |
| 8-9-23 | Durban | Green Buffaloes | 3rd-Place PO | 2-1 | Maconho, Cazemba |
GOALSCORERS
2 goals – Goia, Maconho
1 goal – Cazemba, Janeiro, Ninika
RECORDS AND SEQUENCES
Biggest win: 2-1 vs Young Buffaloes (2023), 2-1 vs Olympic de Moroni (2023), 2-1 vs Green Buffaloes (2023)
Heaviest defeat: 1-8 vs Mamelodi Sundowns (2022)
Highest scoring match: 1-8 vs Mamelodi Sundowns (2022)
Longest winning run: 2 games (31-08-23 to 02-09-23)
Longest losing run: 2 games (from 07-08-22 to 11-08-22; from 04-09-23 to 06-09-23)
Longest unbeaten run: 2 games (31-08-23 to 02-09-23)
Longest run without a win: 2 games (from 07-08-22 to 11-08-22; from 04-09-23 to 06-09-23)
Total clean sheets: 0 matches (0%)
Total failed to score: 3 matches (43%)
Most goals scored in a competition: 6 (2023)
Most goals conceded in a competition: 10 (2022)
Group stage wins: 2 out of 5 (40%)
Knockout stage wins: 1 out of 2 (50%)