The University of the Western Cape, who will represent South Africa at the COSAFA CAF Women’s Champions League qualifiers, have found out their opponents after Wednesday’s draw.
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, which allowed Hollywoodbets Super League runners-up UWC the chance to qualify for the CAF Women’s Champions League for the very first time.
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.
Apart from UWC, the following teams were in the COSAFA qualifiers draw: Green Buffaloes from Zambia, Young Buffaloes from Eswatini, Namibia’s Ongos FC, Malawi’s Ascent Soccer Academy, Herentals Queens from Zimbabwe, Gaborone United of Botswana and União Desportiva de Lichinga from Mozambique.
2022 champions Green Buffaloes are probably the biggest threat, as they will appear for the fourth year in a row in the COSAFA qualifiers, having at least reached the semi-finals on every occasion.
The eight teams were drawn into two groups of four clubs each, with the top two in each group advancing to the semi-finals, with UWC drawn in Group A alongside Green Buffaloes, Herentals Queens and Ongos Ladies.
Below is the full draw:
Only the winner earns a place at the finals to join Sundowns as representatives from the Southern African region.
The CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifier 2024 will take place in Blantyre, Malawi, this year from August 15-24, with the winner advancing to the continental showpiece finals.
