After weeks of exciting women’s football action in different sub-continental unions in Africa which has produced various winners, all focus now shifts to this season’s CAF Women’s Champions League.
The biggest women’s football clubs across African leagues are set to compete for the top continental prize and are also aware of their group opponents after the group stage draws which took place at the Mohammed VI Technical Centre in Rabat, Morocco.
Defending Champions, Mamelodi Sundown Ladies and other African heavyweights including Simba Queens, Wadi Degla, Green Buffaloes and Bayelsa Queens will all look forward to the group stage and hope for a smooth start to their African tourney.
PARTICIPATING TEAMS
Green Buffaloes (Zambia): COSAFA Champions
Determine Girls FC (Liberia): WAFU A Champions
Simba Queens FC (Tanzania): CECAFA Champions
Bayelsa Queens (Nigeria): WAFU B Champions
AS FAR (Morocco): Host Club
Wadi Degla FC (Egypt): UNAF Champions
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies (South Africa): CAF Women’s Champions League title holders and COSAFA runners up
The seven teams above will be joined by the winners of UNIFFAC (Central Africa) after the conclusion of the Zonal Qualifiers later this month, set to take place from 10 to 16 September 2022 in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.
Interestingly, Four (4) out of the seven (7) qualified teams will be making their debut appearance at the continental showpiece this year; Simba Queens (Tanzania) Green Buffaloes (Zambia) and Determine Girls (Liberia) and Bayelsa Queens (Nigeria)
The draw made provisions for the eight (8) qualified teams in two (2) groups of four (4) teams. Seven (7) teams have qualified for the tournament with one more team to join them later this month.
Group A will see hosts AS FAR of Morocco, Tanzania’s Simba Queens, Zambia’s Green Buffaloes and Liberia’s Determine Girls square off.
Group B includes Nigeria’s Bayelsa Queens, Wadi Degla of Egypt, defending champions Mamelodi Sundown Ladies of South Africa and the UNIFFAC champions.
The Champions League final tournament will take place in Rabat from 30 October to 13 November, with further details to be confirmed closer to the time.
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies won the maiden edition last year defeating Hasaacas Ladies FC of Ghana 2-0 in the final with ASFAR FC winning the bronze medal last year after a 3-1 victory over Malabo Queens of Equatorial Guinea in the third-place match.