Red Roses learn title defence route
Kabelo Boranabi | Tuesday August 4, 2026 15:17
In a tournament draw held this morning at the Gaborone International Convention Centre, the Red Roses will begin title defence in Group A, against Zimbabwe's Herentals Queens, Zambia's ZESCO Ndola Girls and Lesotho Defence Force (LDF). The local champions are no strangers to their opponents. ZESCO Ndola Girls will be chasing revenge after losing last year's final to GU on penalties, while Herentals Queens arrive as one of Zimbabwe's strongest clubs and will fancy their chances of reaching the knockout stages. LDF complete the group and will be hoping to spring a surprise.
Group B pits South African giants and former African champions, Mamelodi Sundowns, against Mozambique's Costa do Sol, Eswatini's Nsingizini Hotspurs and Malawi's Silver Strikers. Sundowns, who have won both the COSAFA Qualifiers and the CAF Women's Champions League, start as favourites to emerge from the group.
The COSAFA Qualifiers are be held in Gaborone from August 20 to 29. This will be first time the tournament is staged staged in Botswana after rounds in South Africa and Malawi. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals, while the eventual champions will earn COSAFA's sole place at the 2026 CAF Women's Champions League finals.
With Sundowns placed in the opposite group, GU will only meet the South African powerhouse if both clubs progress beyond the group stage. Two top teams in each group qualify for the semi finals in the knockout round for a single Champions League finals spot.