The 2025 CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifiers will be played in Johannesburg from August 22–31, marking the fifth edition of the preliminary competition for the continental finals.
We look back at the previous four editions to see who holds the major records in the competition.
MOST TROPHY WINS
Mamelodi Sundowns – 2
South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns have won two of the four previous COSAFA Qualifiers, lifting the trophy in 2021 and 2023. They went on to win the African title in both those years. Green Buffaloes from Zambia were regional champions in 2022, while South Africa’s University of the Western Cape triumphed in 2024, a year in which Sundowns did not compete, having already qualified for the continental finals as African champions.
MOST GOALS IN A FINALS
52 goals in 2023
The highest-scoring edition of the COSAFA Qualifiers came in 2023, with 52 goals scored in 16 matches—an average of 3.25 goals per game. In comparison, there were 42 goals in 2021, 25 in 2022 (from just eight games), and 39 goals in 15 matches in 2024. The highest goals-per-game ratio came in the first edition in 2021, with 42 goals scored in 12 games at an average of 3.50 per match.
MOST MATCHES WON
Mamelodi Sundowns – 11
Sundowns have won 11 of their 13 matches in the regional qualifiers, drawing the other two. They went five-from-five in both 2021 and 2023, but drew with Double Action (1-1) and Green Buffaloes (0-0) in 2022, finishing as runners-up that year.
BIGGEST VICTORY
Mamelodi Sundowns 8–0 Olympic de Moroni
Sundowns recorded a resounding win over Olympic de Moroni from Comoros in the 2023 group stage, scoring eight goals with seven different players getting on the scoresheet. Chuene Morifi, Tiisetso Makhubela (2), Boitumelo Rabale, Nonhlanhla Mthandi, Refilwe Tholakele, Salome Kekana, and Miche Minnies all contributed. Sundowns led just 2–0 at halftime before running riot in the second half.
MOST GOALS IN A TOURNAMENT BY A PLAYER
Melinda Kgadiete (Mamelodi Sundowns), Ireen Lungu (Green Buffaloes) – 5
Kgadiete scored five goals in the 2021 COSAFA Qualifier to lead Sundowns to the title. A year later, Ireen Lungu matched that tally for Green Buffaloes, who defeated Sundowns on penalties in the 2022 final after a goalless draw.
MOST GOALS IN THE COSAFA QUALIFIERS
Melinda Kgadiete (Mamelodi Sundowns) – 8
Kgadiete is the all-time leading scorer in the CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifiers, with eight goals. She netted five times in 2021 and added three more in 2022. She is also the top scorer in the history of the continental finals, with seven goals—one ahead of AS FAR’s Moroccan duo Ibtissam Jraïdi and Doha El Madani.
MOST GOALS BY A CLUB
Mamelodi Sundowns – 52
Sundowns have scored 52 goals across their three campaigns in the COSAFA Qualifiers, while conceding only four. They are by far the most prolific club in the competition’s history.
EVER-PRESENTS
Green Buffaloes (Zambia)
Green Buffaloes were the only team to feature in all four previous editions of the CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifiers. They reached the semifinals in 2021 and 2023, won the title in 2022, and finished bottom of their group in 2024. However, they will miss out in 2025 as ZESCO Ndola Girls represent Zambia this time.
Source: COSAFA.com
