2024 CAF Women's Champions League: Contenders, Pretenders And The Surprise Packages

Written by Oluwaseun Oyediji

As the continent prepares for the fourth edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League, expectations are high with eight teams as usual, contesting to dethrone two time winners, Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies (South Africa).

History

In 2021, Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies won the maiden edition of the tournament in Egypt, winning four of their five games.

A 2-0 win against Hasaacas Ladies (Ghana) in the final, thanks to goals from Chuene Precious Morifi and Andisiwe Mgcoyi crowned the South Africans as champions of the first ever women’s football club tournament on the continent.

The victory served as bush fire effect on the national team which edged Morocco 2-1 a year later to clinch the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

In 2022, South Africa and Morocco continued their continental rivalry as AS FAR FC (Morocco) thrashed 10-player Sundowns 4-0 to win the second edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League on home soil.

Ibtissam Jraidi scored a hat-trick for the Moroccan side and still hold the record for the most goals scored in a single CAF Women’s Champions League tournament with six goals.

Her hat trick was the second in the tournament after her teammate, Sanaa Mssoudy achieved the same feat in 2021.

In 2023, Sundowns reclaimed the title in an emphatic manner in Cote D’Ivoire, winning all five games including a 3-0 victory against Sporting Club Casablanca in the final match.

Boitumelo Rabale, whose brace in the final match lifted the Brazilians to their second continental title emerged as the player of the tournament as her team won every award.

Pairings

Group A
AS FAR FC (Morocco)
University of Western Cape (South Africa)
TP Mazembe (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Aigles de la Medina (Senegal)

Group B
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies (South Africa)
Edo Queens (Nigeria)
Commerical Bank of Ethiopia FC (Ethiopia)
FC Masar (Egypt)

Contenders

Two time champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies are one of the favourites given their impressive record at the tournament.

The team have played at every edition of the competition and also reached the final every single time.

The interesting statistics pertaining to Jerry Tshabalala’s side is a record of 13 wins, a draw, and a loss in 15 games.

To make their imperious form tenable, the team has scored 26 goals and conceded just five, all of which were shipped in at the end of the 2022 edition, conceding one against Bayelsa Queens and four against AS FAR FC.

Their possessive style of play denying the opponents time and space to play gives them the advantage over others.

It will take huge defensive discipline and attacking prowess to beat the Brazilians.

Like Sundowns, AS FAR FC has featured in every edition of the tournament and are the second best team, making them a strong candidate to claim the title.

At every edition of the tournament, the Moroccan side have never failed to get a podium finish. Bronze medal in 2021 and 2023 surrounds title winning feat on home soil in 2022.

As the 2024 edition returns to Morocco where they won the title in 2022, the odds are high on the experienced team armed with most players from the national team.

Another meeting with Sundowns is also expected as both sides are familiar foes from previous editions.

Sundowns have won one of their pervious three meetings with AS FAR winning one while the other ended in a 0-0 draw in 2021.

If a team can stop Sundowns from retaining the title, that team has to be AS FAR FC. The military team hav exhibited lots of discipline and composure in their style of play.

Making their debut appearance, Edo Queens are also one of the contenders for the title.

With Nigeria’s rich quality and history in women’s football, it is quite surprising that a team from the country is yet to win the Women’s Champions League.

Rivers Angels bowed out in the group stage in 2021 while Bayelsa Queens recorded the country’s best performance with a bronze medal finish in 2022.

2023 was not a palatable year for the West African powerhouse as Delta Queens could not qualify for the CAF Women’s Champions League after a 1-0 loss to Ampem Darkoa (Ghana) in the Zonal final.

With an impressive record of winning all games to win the West Africa Zone B (WAFU-B) Women’s Champions League Qualifiers, their style of play similar to that of Sundowns puts them in the same contending category for the CAF Women’s Champions League.

Getting to the finals this time around and winning the title will make Moses Aduku’s side the most successful club in Nigeria’s history as far as the competition is concerned, canceling the bronze medal feat of Bayelsa Queens under late coach Domo Okara.

Surprise Packages

Having two teams from South Africa in the tournament puts University of Western Cape in advantageous position of getting a podium finish.

In 2023, two Moroccan teams got a podium finish with SC Casablanca reaching the final while AS FAR FC won the bronze medal.

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South Africa’s recent surge in women’s football means University of Western Cape should not be taken likely at the tournament.

Pretenders

There are five debutants in the tournament kicking off this weekend. WAFU-A champions, Aigles de la Medina will be Senegal’s first club to take part in the competition.

They qualified ahead of Liberian side, Determine Girls and will be given a huge baptism against AS FAF FC, University of Western Cape and TP Mazembe in Group A.

TP Mazembe is making their second appearance and hope to make it out of the group stage for the first time after bowing out at the group stage in 2022.

FC Masar and Commercial Bank of Ethiopia FC (CBE FC) are also making their debut appearances at the competition.

CBE FC will miss the services of their former captain and national team star, Loza Abera who departed the team.

Overall, a huge tournament filled with excitement and the best of women’s football in Africa awaits fans and spectators in Morocco.

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About Author

Oluwaseun Oyediji

I am a huge advocate of Women’s football after covering the Nigeria Women Football Leagues (NWFL) since 2019. An unbiased football writer with penchant for women’s in sports and historical analysis.

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