COSAFA Women's Champions League

Not to be confused with COSAFA Women's Championship.

COSAFA Women's Champions League
COSAFA Women's Champions League logo
Organising bodyCOSAFA
Founded2021
RegionSouthern Africa
Number of teams8
Current championsSouth Africa University of the Western Cape (1st title)
Most successful club(s)South Africa Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies (2 titles)
Television broadcastersSuperSport
WebsiteOfficial website
2024 edition

The CAF Women's Champions League COSAFA Qualifiers, branded as the COSAFA Women's Champions League, is an annual qualification tournament for the CAF Women's Champions League organized by COSAFA for its nations.[1][2][3] Established in 2021, it has been sponsored by South African sports betting company, Hollywoodbets.

History

In 2020, CAF announced the launch of the CAF Women's Champions League with each of the six sub confederations to hold qualifiers with the winners to represent them at the main tournament.[4]

In April 2021, COSAFA announced the launch for the inaugural COSAFA Women's Champions League and confirmed the eight team to participate.[5] Prison XI from Botswana were replaced by Double Action Ladies as the former turned down the invitation citing logistical issues.[6]

The inaugural edition was held from 26 August - 4 September 2021 in Durban, South Africa. Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies from South Africa defeated Black Rhinos Queens from Zimbabwe 3-0 in the final.[7]

The second edition was held from 7-13 August 2022 in Durban, South Africa. Green Buffaloes from Zambia defeated Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies from South Africa 6-5 via penalties after the match ended in goalless draw.[8]

The third edition was held from 30 August - 8 September 2023 in Durban, South Africa. Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies from South Africa defeated Double Action Ladies from Botswana 2-0 in the final.[9]

The 2024 edition was held from 15-24 August 2024 in Blantyre, Malawi.[10] The University of the Western Cape from South Africa defeated Gaborone United Ladies from Botswana 9-8 via penalties after the match ended in a 1-1 draw.[11]

Results

Season Champion Score Runner-up Refs.
2021
 South Africa Mamelodi Sundowns
3–0
 Zimbabwe Black Rhinos Queens [12]
2022
 Zambia Green Buffaloes
0–0
(6–5 p)
 South Africa Mamelodi Sundowns [13]
2023
 South Africa Mamelodi Sundowns
2–0
 Botswana Double Action Ladies [14][15]
2024
 South Africa University of the Western Cape
1-1
(9-8 p)
 Botswana Gaborone United Ladies [11]

Records and statistics

Best player

Season Player Club
2021
 Zimbabwe Rutendo Makore Zimbabwe Black Rhinos Queens
2022
 South Africa Melinda Kgadiete South Africa Mamelodi Sundowns
2023
 BotswanaLesego Radiakanyo Botswana Double Action
2024
 BotswanaKeitumetse Sithebe Botswana Gaborone United Ladies

Top goal scorers

Season Player Club Goals
2021
 South Africa Melinda Kgadiete South Africa Mamelodi Sundowns
5
2022
 Zambia Ireen Lungu Zambia Green Buffaloes
5
2023
 South Africa Andisiwe Mgcoyi South Africa Mamelodi Sundowns
3
South Africa Lelona Daweti
2024
 South Africa Bongeka Gamede South Africa University of the Western Cape
3
Eswatini Siphilisiwe Ndlovu Eswatini Young Buffaloes

Best goalkeeper

Season Player Club
2021
 Zimbabwe Precious Mudyiwa Zimbabwe Black Rhinos Queens
2022
 Zambia Aisha Mbwana Zambia Green Buffaloes
2023
 South Africa Andile Dlamini South Africa Mamelodi Sundowns
2024
 South Africa Siphesihle Dlamini South Africa University of the Western Cape

Fair play

Season Club
2022
 Botswana Double Action
2023
 Botswana Double Action
2024
 South Africa University of the Western Cape

Performance by nation

Nation Winners Runners-up 3rd Places 4th places Winner Runners-up 3rd Place 4th place
 South Africa 3 1 0 0
 Zambia 1 0 0 1
 Botswana 0 2 1
 Zimbabwe 0 1 0 0
 Mozambique 0 0 1 0
 Comoros 0 0 0 1

References

  1. ^ Vedan, Eshlin (26 July 2021). "Inaugural Cosafa Women's Champions League draw to take place". Daily Pressreadar. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  2. ^ "Inaugural COSAFA Women's Champions League draw set for 29 July". Daily African Football News. 26 July 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  3. ^ "Format for inaugural COSAFA Women's Champions League set". COSAFA. 21 April 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  4. ^ "Caf releases maiden African Women's Champions League format | Goal.com". www.goal.com. 10 September 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  5. ^ "Eight teams confirmed for maiden Cosafa Women's Champions League | Goal.com". www.goal.com. 20 April 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  6. ^ "Double Action ready to surprise and book ticket for Egypt". 3 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  7. ^ "sundowns-crowned-winners-of-totalenergies-caf-women-s-champions-league-cosafa-qu". sundowns-crowned-winners-of-totalenergies-caf-women-s-champions-league-cosafa-qu. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  8. ^ "Buffaloes dethrone Sundowns as Cosafa Queens - ZamFoot". zambianfootball.co.zm. 13 August 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  9. ^ Raophala, Mauwane (8 September 2023). "Sundowns beat Double Action to qualify for CAF Champions League". FARPost. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  10. ^ "CAF Women's Champions League COSAFA Zonal Qualifiers to kick off in Malawi on Thursday". CAF Women's Champions League COSAFA Zonal Qualifiers to kick off in Malawi on Thursday. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  11. ^ a b Pillay, Alicia (25 August 2024). "History Made as UWC Join Mamelodi Sundowns in CAF Women's Champions League". gsport4girls. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  12. ^ "Sundowns crowned winners of TotalEnergies CAF Women's Champions League | COSAFA Qualifiers". COSAFA. 4 September 2021. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  13. ^ "Green Buffaloes stun Mamelodi Sundowns to win regional title". COSAFA. 13 August 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  14. ^ "Mamelodi Sundowns qualify for CAF Women's Champions League finals". COSAFA. 8 September 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  15. ^ "Mamelodi Sundowns to represent COSAFA region at CAF Women's Champions League". CAFOnline.com. 8 September 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.