Road to global stage starts in Gaborone
Kabelo Boranabi | Monday August 10, 2026 06:00
Executive director, Francis Makonese explained this year's competition carries greater significance as the eventual champions will first qualify for the CAF Women's Champions League finals, where Africa's best clubs will compete for the continental title and a place at the 2027 FIFA Women's Champions Cup. 'The journey does not end here,” he said during the COSAFA Qualifiers draw at the GICC on Tuesday. “The winner of this qualifier will earn the right to represent the region at the CAF Women's Champions League finals later this year.
History beckons because the African champions will go on to represent the continent at the 2027 FIFA Women's Champions Cup.' Beyond the competition itself, Makonese noted COSAFA's legacy programme will include referee development through VAR training, scouting workshops and community engagement initiatives aimed at inspiring more young girls to pursue football. Botswana will host the regional qualifiers for the first time from August 20 to 29, becoming only the third COSAFA member association after South Africa and Malawi to stage the competition. Eight clubs have been drawn into two groups of four, with the top two teams in each group progressing to the semi-finals. The winner of the tournament will qualify for the CAF Women's Champions League finals. On the pitch, all eyes will be on defending champions Gaborone United (GU) Ladies, who return as Botswana's standard bearers after becoming the country's first club to win the regional title last year. The Red Roses have been handed a tricky Group A assignment alongside Zimbabwe's Herentals Queens, Zambia's ZESCO Ndola Girls, and Lesotho Defence Force.
The draw sets up a familiar battle for GU, who defeated ZESCO Ndola Girls on penalties in last year's final to lift the trophy. The Zambian side will be eager to avenge that defeat, whilst Herentals Queens arrive as one of Zimbabwe's leading clubs, determined to make a breakthrough on the regional stage. Lesotho Defence Force complete the group and will be hoping to upset the more fancied sides. Group B features South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns, Mozambique's Costa do Sol, Eswatini's Nsingizini Hotspurs, and Malawi's Silver Strikers. Sundowns remain the tournament's most successful club, having won the regional title twice before going on to conquer Africa, and are once again amongst the favourites.
Speaking at the draw, COSAFA president Tariq Babitseng said hosting the tournament goes beyond football, describing it as an investment in the region's economy and the development of the women's game. 'When teams travel, hotels are occupied, restaurants receive customers, transport operators, service providers and local vendors all benefit. Hosting must therefore be seen as part of football development. It is an investment in our associations, our communities and our economies,' he said. Babitseng added that COSAFA wants every member association to have the opportunity to host regional competitions as part of growing football across Southern Africa, whilst working with CAF, FIFA and governments to improve infrastructure and create more hosting opportunities. Director of Sport in the Ministry of Sport and Arts, Moeti Godisamang, said Botswana is ready to deliver another successful international event following the hosting of the World Athletics Relays in May. He said the tournament forms part of the country's 60th Independence celebrations and government's strategy to use sport to drive tourism, economic diversification and gender equality.
'We are very pleased that COSAFA chose Botswana to host this event. We remain committed, together with the Botswana Football Association and Botswana National Sport Commission, to ensure its success and further establish Botswana as a preferred destination for major sporting events,' Godisamang said.