Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies Head Coach, Godfrey Sapula has admitted that they have been placed in a tough group following the draw for the CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA qualifier on Wednesday (6 August 2025).
The competition is a ticket to the prestigious continental final – the CAF Women’s Champions League.
Banyana ba Style have dominated the regional tournament – winning it in 2021 and 2023, the same years they went to win the continental showpiece.
They boast an impressive record of 11 wins and two draws in 13 matches in the COSAFA tournament – with a haul of 52 goals scored and only four conceded.
Their only loss in the competition was in 2022 when they went down to Zambia’s Green Buffaloes on penalties.
The 2025 edition has a record number of entries with 10 teams in total – an addition of two from the previous eight in 2024.
Sundowns Ladies have been drawn in Group A against Ntopwa FC of Malawi and debutants Beauties FC of Namibia as well as Zesco Ndola from Zambia.
“It is a very interesting draw for us, not an easy one and it has not happened that there are so many teams in the field – this year there are 10 participants – and that talks to the growth of the woman’s game especially in the COSAFA region,” Sapula reacted to the draw.
“It’s a difficult draw for us, however, we have to do what we have to do at the end of the day. There’s a team from Namibia, very good side, there’s Ntopwa from Malawi and also Zesco from Zambia – and you are aware that teams from Zambia have done well in this COSAFA tournament in the past. We have already started profiling these teams so that we can prepare as best as possible and give ourselves a chance to make sure that we win this COSAFA to get a ticket to the CAF Champions League.”
The Brazilians have not reached their full potential in recent times.
Last year they failed to get out of the group stages in the continental finals – the first time they suffered the fate – something Sapula is weary of. But to get the top, they need to do well in the regional competition.
Sundowns Ladies did not play in this tournament last year as they qualified to the CAF Women’s Champions League by virtue of being continental champions, with their spot taken by the University of the Western Cape (UWC), who claimed the regional title.
“The CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA qualifier is a very important tournament to the club because obviously it serves as a qualifier for the CAF Women’s Champions League and that is obviously in line with the ambitions of the club, which is to conquer the continent. So, it is very important for us to do well in this competition so that we give ourselves an opportunity to participate in this year’s CAF Women’s Champions League,” added the Mamelodi Sundowns legend.
This will be the first time he leads the team in this competition – both as a player and a coach. In 2024 he was part of the coaching staff in Morocco at the continental finals but in an advisory role.
He is looking forward to the challenge.
“For me personally, it is a very important step to be taking this team in the CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA qualifiers – but last year I was with the team at the CAF Women’s Champions League and that was in a way some sort of an induction for me. Although the team didn’t do well, there are a lot of lessons and experience that we took from the tournament,” said Sapula.
“It’s very important that we are able to use that experience and the learnings that we took from last year’s tournament and make sure that we try and improve the team so that when we approach the CAF Women’s Champions League we are able to do better. This is again in line with the ambitions of the club to always be at that stage and do well, and make sure that we bring back the team where it belongs, which is obviously to fight and win the CAF Women’s Champions League. And we are all aware that victory there will hand you a ticket to the FIFA Club World Cup – a stage where the club prides itself and wants to always be and compete with the best in the world.”
The CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA qualifier is now in its fifth edition and will take place at the AW Muller Stadium in Auckland Park, Johannesburg from 22-31 August.
According to the competition rules, only the winners of each group progress to the semi-finals, alongside the best second placed team.
For Group A, it becomes a bit tricky in that in terms of qualification to the next round, results against the team finishing last will not be considered, which leaves little room for e.
The overall competition winner will represent the COSAFA region at the continental finals – a mantle previously held by three teams Sundowns Ladies (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024); Green Buffaloes (2022) and UWC (2024).
The Brazilians have won the CAF Women’s Champions League on two occasions – 2021 and 2023. And they will also pride themselves as having in their midst the all-time top goal scorer in the regional competition in Melinda Kgadiete, who has banged in eight goals.
CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA qualifier Draw:
Group A:
- Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies (South Africa)
- Ntopwa FC (Malawi)
- Beauties FC (Namibia) – Debutants
- Zesco Ndola Girls (Zambia) – Debutants
Group B:
- Gaborone United Ladies (Botswana)
- Young Buffaloes (Eswatini)
- Kick4Life WFC (Lesotho) – Debutants
Group C:
- Herentals Queens (Zimbabwe)
- Olympic de Moroni (Comoros)
- Clube de Desportos da Costa do Sol (Mozambique)
By Matlhomola Morake
