Defending champions and hosts Gaborone United Ladies have been handed a difficult Group A in today’s draw held at Grand Palm hotel in Gaboroneas they prepare to defend their title at the CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifier Botswana 2026, which will be staged in Gaborone from August 20-29.
They have been drawn alongside Zambia’s ZESCO Ndola Girls, whom they edged on penalties in last year’s final, as well as Zimbabwe’s Herentals Queens, who have proved a difficult team to beat. Lesotho Defence Force complete the group as they return to the tournament with the experience of previous campaigns.
Group B contains two-time winners Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa, who will also have to be wary of their three opponents: Nsingizini Hotspurs from Eswatini, Mozambique’s Costa do Sol and Malawi’s Silver Strikers.
The top two teams in each group will advance to the semi-finals, with the eventual winner representing Southern Africa at the continental finals later in the year. The CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifier will be staged for the sixth time, with Botswana becoming the third country to host the competition after four editions in South Africa and one in Malawi.
Four COSAFA clubs have previously reached the CAF Women’s Champions League continental finals: Mamelodi Sundowns, Green Buffaloes, the University of the Western Cape and Gaborone United. Sundowns have won two continental titles and reached another final.
The qualifier has featured 19 clubs from 10 countries across its first five editions. The 2025 tournament produced a record 63 goals in 15 matches, including Gaborone United Ladies’ 10-1 victory over Kick4Life
Gaonyadiwe Ontlametse scored five goals in that match and seven during the tournament, while her career total of 11 remains the highest in the history of the qualifier.
CAF WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE | COSAFA QUALIFIER BOTSWANA 2026 DRAW
GROUP A
Gaborone United Ladies (Botswana)
Lesotho Defence Force (Lesotho)
ZESCO Ndola Girls (Zambia)
Herentals Queens (Zimbabwe)
GROUP B
Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
Nsingizini Hotspurs FC (Eswatini)
Costa do Sol (Mozambique)
Silver Strikers (Malawi)
