By Bonface Orucho
The upcoming CAF Women’s Champions League will feature an impressive five debutant clubs out of the eight competing, underscoring its growing nature and the dynamic opportunity it is availing to women footballers on the continent.
The tournament, which is Africa’s premier women’s club competition, will be held in Ivory Coast between November 5 and 19, in the cities of Korhogo and San Pedro, and will feature five first-time participating teams and only three returning teams.
It is a critical moment for women’s football with this competition being held in sub-Saharan Africa for the first time, the past two editions having been hosted in Egypt and Morocco, respectively.
The tournament, which is also being touted as a test of Ivory Coast’s capacity and ability to host the 2024 men’s AFCON, is expected to be full of football action, this time from female football stars, with the best club footballers in Africa promising to put on a spectacular show, fighting for the crown of the best women’s club football team in the continent.
Each of the six sub-confederations of CAF—COSAFA (Southern Africa), CECAFA (East Africa), UNAF (North Africa), UNIFFAC (Central Africa), WAFU Zone A (West Africa), and WAFU Zone B (West Africa)—contributes to the tournament with a member association each. The hosting country and defending champions also get automatic spots.
Therefore, eight clubs will participate in this year’s edition, including two previous winners: AS FAR from Morocco, who are the reigning champions and will be making their third participation, while South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, the winners of the inaugural edition, will be seeking to reclaim the coveted title.
Notably, however, this year’s edition is filled with debutant teams, a testament to the many underlying efforts being put into building capacity around amateur teams and tapping raw female talent.
Huracanes FC from Equatorial Guinea, for instance, are keen to clinch the coveted trophy. With two wins, six points, and eight goals from their qualifying league, they have defied all odds to be crowned the queens of the Union of Football Federations of Central Africa Zone.
Apart from posing significant winning potential in this league, key names from the team, such as Elena Obono, are expected to display great performances. Obono is currently the ‘Best Player’ of the Union of Football Federation of Central Africa in the qualifying tournament, where she was also the top scorer. They, however, find themselves in a tough Group A alongside AS Mandel, Ampem Darkoa, and the ASFAR Club.
JKT Queens from Tanzania, another new entrant in this competition, put on a spirited fight against Ethiopia Commercial Bank, winning in the penalty shootouts during the CECAFA regional qualifiers after a goalless full-time match, including extra time. This makes them stand out as a resilient team able to withstand pressure and secure a win regardless of the opponent.
The Ghanaian side, Ampem Darkoa, will also be seeking this title in its maiden attempt at the tournament. This is especially pressing considering that in the inaugural 2021 edition, Hasaacas, a Ghanaian club, made it to the finals despite losing 2-0 to Mamelodi Sundowns.
However, apart from debutants, established teams such as Morocco’s ASFAR Club will be in the mix, bringing on their dreaded skills and experience in the competition alongside two-time contenders AS Mande of Mali and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns.
Perhaps the greatest pressure is mounting on the home team, Athletic Abidjan, who will be keen to leverage their home advantage to win. This is the Ivorians’ first participation in the CAF Women’s Champions League, but their unbeaten domestic league record of 17 victories and a draw makes them a threat in the competition.
The Women’s Champions League, launched in June 2020 by CAF, was part of the confederation’s strategic plan to grow women’s football on the continent, especially by increasing more women-focused competitions.
The past two successful competitions and an upcoming third edition build a robust portfolio for the Confederation of African Football, illuminating its commitment to growing the sport that was once male-focused.
The results of this growth are already being witnessed, bringing bountiful opportunities for women footballers. Today, some female professional football players from the continent are pushing their way into the multi-million-dollar football transfer market.
The September 2023 FIFA’s International Transfer Snapshot report, a provisional report on transfers made in the July–September transfer window, shows 66 transfers involving female players were made into the continent, while 89 players from Africa left to play professional football outside the continent. This translates to 50% and 31% growth, respectively.
Nigerian forward Ngozi Sonia Okobi-Okeoghene for instance, completed her switch to Spanish Liga F club Levante Las Planas for the remainder of the season this year, while Malawian Tabitha Chawinga secured a spot at Paris Saint-Germain. The 27-year-old made history in May when she became the first African female player to be a top scorer in the Italian Serie A league while playing for Nerazzurri.
Off the pitch, the whole women’s football ecosystem is in growth gear. A 2023 report by CAF on ‘Women’s Football Landscape’ shows there are more than 150,000 registered players, more than 4000 female coaches, and close to 5000 female referees registered under CAF.
“The data show that these players are young, with more than 70% of them being under 20 years old. There is also a great improvement in our member associations in terms of the commitment of women’s U-20 and U-17 teams,” CAF Head of Women’s Football, Meskerem Tadesse Goshime, stated during the report launch that happened in April.
The CAF report shows that 47 out of 54 countries on the continent are fielding women’s national teams.
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The CAF Women’s Champions League, set to take place in Ivory Coast from November 5 to 19, will feature a notable influx of debutant clubs, with five out of eight teams participating for the first time. This reflects the growing opportunities for women footballers in Africa. Held in sub-Saharan Africa for the first time, the tournament will test Ivory Coast’s readiness for hosting the 2024 men’s AFCON.
The competition will showcase top female football talent, including two previous champions: Morocco's AS FAR and South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns. Debutant clubs such as Huracanes FC from Equatorial Guinea and JKT Queens from Tanzania have shown significant promise in the qualifiers, while experienced teams like Morocco’s ASFAR Club and South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns bring formidable skills to the contest.
The event, launched in June 2020, aligns with CAF’s strategic plan to boost women’s football. The past successes and increased competition indicate robust efforts in nurturing talent and infrastructure. This growth is mirrored by the inclusion of African female players in the lucrative football transfer market, as highlighted by FIFA’s recent transfer snapshot report. Additionally, the broader women’s football ecosystem shows significant expansion with over 150,000 registered players and numerous coaches and referees, according to CAF’s 2023 report.
This year’s CAF Women’s Champions League not only symbolizes the growth of the sport but also demonstrates the increasing prominence of African women in football, both on and off the pitch.
