CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA Qualifier Botswana 2026: Group-stage Draw in Gaborone on August 3
CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA Qualifier Botswana 2026 group-stage draw is set for Gaborone on August 3, 2026, with live coverage from CAF TV and COSAFA’s YouTube channels.
The CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA Qualifier Botswana 2026 group-stage draw will be held in Gaborone on Tuesday, 3 August 2026 at 11:00 CAT (09:00 GMT), and the event will be broadcast live on CAF TV and COSAFA’s YouTube channel. The draw will determine the pairings for eight teams competing for a single berth at the continental finals later in the year. Regional qualifying matches are scheduled to run from August 20 to 29, and the top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals.
Draw set for Gaborone on 3 August 2026
The draw ceremony will take place in Botswana’s capital with hosts Gaborone United Ladies automatically assigned to position A1 as defending champions. Organizers have confirmed the start time as 11:00 CAT (09:00 GMT), allowing regional and international viewers to follow live coverage on CAF TV and COSAFA’s official channels.
Officials say the event marks a culmination of pre-tournament preparations and will clarify fixtures ahead of matchday planning, travel and logistics for the participating clubs. The regional qualifier runs from August 20–29, giving teams a compact window to contest group matches, semi-finals and the final.
Seeding and automatic placements explained
Gaborone United, who will play with the advantage of home support, occupy A1 by virtue of hosting and their status as defending COSAFA champions. Mamelodi Sundowns, identified as the highest-ranked side across the last three editions, have been placed as B1 to balance the draw between the two groups.
Organizers divided the field into two pots after seeding, with Costa do Sol and ZESCO Ndola Girls forming the remainder of the top tier alongside the two automatic placements. Tournament officials say the seeding reflects recent regional performance and aims to produce competitive pools while protecting the highest-ranked clubs from meeting in the opening phase.
Key contenders and recent records
Mamelodi Sundowns arrive with strong credentials, having won the regional title in 2021 and 2023 and lifted the continental trophy twice, making them perennial favourites. Gaborone United will seek to defend the crown they reclaimed last year after finishing as runners-up in 2024, aiming to convert home advantage into a deep run at the qualifiers.
ZESCO Ndola Girls, who made a remarkable run to last year’s final on their debut, will look to improve on that performance and secure the solitary COSAFA slot to the continental finals. Costa do Sol of Mozambique also enter as a consistent threat, with a third-place finish in 2023 and another semi-final appearance last season underlining their competitiveness.
Debutants and returning sides to watch
The tournament will welcome two debutants in Nsingizini Hotspurs from Eswatini and Silver Strikers from Malawi, both making their first appearances on the COSAFA qualifiers stage. Nsingizini become the third Eswatini club to contest the regional event following previous entries by Manzini Wanderers Ladies and Young Buffaloes, while Silver Strikers follow Ntopwa FC and Ascent Soccer Academy as Malawi’s third representative.
Lesotho Defence Force return to the competition for the first time since 2023, marking their third overall appearance with an objective to move past the group phase for the first time. Zimbabwe’s Herentals Queens will also be in the mix after reaching the semi-finals in 2024, where they fell to Gaborone United; that run remains their best showing to date.
Draw mechanics and group composition
The eight teams will be split into two groups of four, with a procedural draw to determine exact positions within the pools. After the two seeded clubs were slotted into A1 and B1, the first team drawn from Pot 1 will be placed into Group A and then assigned a position by an additional positional draw, while the remaining Pot 1 team will go into Group B subject to its own positional draw.
The four teams in Pot 2 will be drawn alternately into Groups A and B and will also face positional draws to set the match schedule within each pool. Tournament rules state that the top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, creating a straightforward pathway from group stage to the final.
Schedule, qualification pathway and broadcast details
Regional qualifiers are scheduled from August 20 to August 29, 2026, with group fixtures concentrated in the opening days followed by knock-out rounds to conclude the tournament. The winner of the COSAFA qualifier will secure a place in the CAF Women’s Champions League continental finals later in the year, representing the Southern African zone among the continent’s elite clubs.
Fans and stakeholders are expected to tune into live streams on CAF TV and COSAFA’s YouTube channel, where the draw will be available in real time. The tournament timetable, match venues and specific kickoff times will be confirmed after the draw, allowing clubs to finalize travel plans and supporters to arrange attendance or viewings.
The draw will set the stage for nine days of competition in Gaborone, with organizers and participating clubs preparing for a tightly contested qualifier that promises high-stakes football and a route to continental competition.
