By Shaffie A Mtambo
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Malawi’s Kukoma Ntopwa Women FC are set for a challenging campaign in the upcoming CAF Women’s Champions League/COSAFA Qualifiers after being drawn in a tough Group A alongside continental heavyweights Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies (South Africa), Zesco Ndola Girls (Zambia), and Beauties FC (Namibia).
The regional tournament, scheduled for August 22 to 31, will take place at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, and features 10 clubs from the COSAFA region battling for a single ticket to the main CAF Women’s Champions League later this year.
For Ntopwa, this will be their second appearance in the COSAFA qualifiers, having made their debut in 2023 where they failed to progress beyond the group stage.
Club founder and owner, Isaac ‘Jomo’ Osman, has expressed confidence that the team has learned valuable lessons from their last outing and is now more prepared both mentally and tactically
“We know the task ahead won’t be easy, especially going up against the defending CAF Champions Mamelodi Sundowns, but our girls are determined to represent Malawi with pride,” said Osman.
Group A, where Ntopwa has been placed, is already being dubbed the “Group of Death” due to the presence of Sundowns Ladies, who won the inaugural CAF Women’s Champions League in 2021 and remain one of the most dominant sides in African women’s football.
Zesco Ndola Girls are also no pushovers, coming in with vast experience and physical strength, while Beauties FC are known for their attacking flair and pace.
Meanwhile, Group B will feature Gaborone United Ladies (Botswana), Young Buffaloes (Eswatini), and Kick4Life WFC (Lesotho) teams expected to be evenly matched.
Group C contains Zimbabwe’s Herentals Queens, Mozambique’s Club de Desportos da Costa do Sol, and Olympic De Moroni from Comoros.
Only the group winners and the best runner-up will advance to the semi-finals, making every match crucial.
The winner of the tournament will qualify as COSAFA’s representative at the CAF Women’s Champions League final tournament to be held later this year in North Africa.
