Eight teams, one trophy, one winner!!
The journey to the new FIFA Women’s Club World Cup 2026 commences for the eight African teams that will battle it out in the 2025 CAF Women’s Champions League that takes place from 8 -21 November in Ismailia, Cairo.
The teams competing for the right to claim the honours of being the best club on the continent are hosts FC Masar from Egypt, defending champions TP Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Morocco’s AS FAR, JKT Queens of Tanzania as well as four debutants – Gaborone United (Botswana), USFAS Bamako (Mali), ASEC Mimosas (Ivory Coast) and FC 15 de Agosto (Equatorial Guinea).
This will be fifth edition of the tournament which has produced only three winners: South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, who have won it twice (2021 and 2023) and are missing for the first time ever since the inception of the competition; AS FAR (2022) and reigning champions TP Mazembe (2024).
The Moroccan team is the most experienced in the field with a record five appearances which has seen them finish as runners up last year and end third twice in 2021 and 2023.
2025 CAF Women’s Champions League Qualified teams:
| Country | Team | How they qualified | Appearance |
| Egypt | FC Masar (hosts) | Champions: 2024/25 Egyptian Women’s Premier League | 2nd |
| Botswana | Gaborone United | Champions: 2025 CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA qualifiers | DEBUTANTS |
| DR Congo | TP Mazembe | Defending Champions: 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League | 3rd |
| Morocco | AS FAR | Champions: 2025 CAF Women’s Champions League UNAF qualifiers | 5th |
| Mali | USFAS Bamako | Champions: 2025 CAF Women’s Champions League WAFU A qualifiers | DEBUTANTS |
| Ivory Coast | ASEC Mimosas | Champions: 2025 CAF Women’s Champions League WAFU B qualifiers | DEBUTANTS |
| Tanzania | JKT Queens | Champions: 2025 CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA qualifiers | 2nd |
| Equatorial Guinea | FC 15 de Agosto | Champions: 2025 CAF Women’s Champions League UNIFFAC qualifiers | DEBUTANTS |
The winner of the 2025 edition will play in the inaugural FIFA Women’s Champions Cup where they will join five other continental confederations champions to determine the world best women’s club.
In the first round, the Asian champions Wuhan Jiangda eliminated Oceania champions Auckland United 1-0 last month to set up a date with the CAF Women’s Champions League winner in Round 2 set for December this year. The victors there will book themselves a ticket to the semi-finals which will be played in London from 28 January to 1 February 2026.
According to the competition format, round two winners will lock horns with Arsenal (champions from the UEFA Women’s Champions League) in one semi-final while the other will be contested by Gotham FC (CONCACAF W Champions Cup winners) and Corinthians (CONMEBOL – Copa Libertadores Femenina champions).
There is also a battle for bronze in the third-place play-off.
FIFA Women’s Champions Cup Format:
- Round 1:
The champions of the AFC Women’s Champions League host the champions of the OFC Women’s Champions League.
- Round 2:
The champions of the CAF Women’s Champions League face the winner from Round 1.
- Semi-finals:
The Round 2 winner advances to play the champions of the UEFA Women’s Champions League, while the champions of the CONCACAF W Champions Cup face the champions of the Copa Libertadores Femenina.
- Final and third-place match:
The semi-final winners contest the final, and the losers play in the third-place match.
The opening match at the 2025 CAF Women’s Champions League will see Group A in action in the battle of the debutants when FC 15 de Agosto face USFAS from Mali at the Right to Dream Stadium at 3pm.
In the evening clash, hosts FC Masar take on Morocco’s AS FAR at the Suez Canal Stadium at 6pm.
This will be the second time Egypt host the tournament since the inaugural competition in 2021.
FACT FILE of the Qualified Teams:
FC Masar (Egypt)
Zone:UNAF
Best performance: 3rd place in 2024
Last appearance:2024
First appearance: 2024
Number of appearances: 2 (2024 & 2025)
Coach:Abderrahmane Aid
Captain:Amira Mohamed
TP Mazembe (DR Congo)
Zone:UNIFFAC
Best performance:Winners in 2024
Last appearance: 2024
First appearance: 2022
Number of appearances:3 (2022, 2024 & 2025)
Coach:Lamia Boumehdi
Captain:Belange Vukulu
AS FAR (Morocco)
Zone: UNAF
Best performance: Winners in 2022
Last appearance:2024
First appearance:2021
Number of appearances:5 (2021–2025)
Coach:Mohamed Amine Alioua
Captain: Najat Badri
USFAS Bamako (Mali)
Zone: WAFU A
First appearance:2025
Number of appearances:1
Coach:Amadou Cissé
Captain:Fatoumata Karentao
ASEC Mimosas (Côte d’Ivoire)
Zone:WAFU B
First appearance: 2025
Number of appearances: 1
Coach:Siaka “Gigi” Traoré
Captain:Érika Gnounoué
15 de Agosto de Akonibe (Equatorial Guinea)
Zone:UNIFFAC
First appearance:2025
Number of appearances: 1
Coach:Sinforosa Eyang Nchama
Captain:Inmaculada Avelina Abang
Gaborone United Ladies (Botswana)
Zone:COSAFA
First appearance: 2025
Number of appearances: 1
Coach:Khalid Niyonzima
Captain:Tlameso Pharesi
JKT Queens (Tanzania)
Zone:CECAFA
Best performance:Group stage in 2022
Last appearance:2023
First appearance: 2022
Number of appearances:2 (2022 & 2025)
Coach: Kessy Juma
Captain: Anastazia Kutunzi
By Matlhomola Morake/CAFonline.com
