AS FAR defend their crown

With five days to go, the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League is taking shape. Egypt will stage the tournament from 1 to 15 November, with eight places across two groups. AS FAR return as defending champions, Mamelodi Sundowns target the continental crown and Morocco will have two representatives. The schedule published on Tuesday 27 October clarifies the opening fixtures while the final WAFU B place remains undecided.

FUS Rabat and Lekié Football Filles will play the tournament’s first match on 1 November at 13:00 Brazzaville time. Hosts FC Masar then meet Mamelodi Sundowns at 16:00. The Egyptian–South African encounter will be an early test in Group A, although it is the second fixture on the opening day.

There is a previous meeting to add context: FC Masar beat Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 at the 2024 tournament. The return encounter gives the South African side an opportunity to respond. The two-time champions will want to establish their campaign immediately, while Masar will seek to make home advantage count.

FUS Rabat and Lekié Football Filles have ambitions of their own. Each team has only three group matches before the qualifying places are decided. A positive opening result would create breathing space; a setback would leave points to recover against opponents competing for the same two semi-final spots.

AS FAR begin their Group B campaign against Kawempe Muslim Ladies on 2 November at 13:00 Brazzaville time. They then face USFAS Bamako on 5 November before meeting the WAFU B representative on 8 November. Both of those matches are also scheduled for 13:00 in Brazzaville.

The Moroccan club return to Egypt as defending champions after beating ASEC Mimosas 2-1 in the 2025 final. The challenge is now to retain the trophy. Their experience provides a foundation, but qualification will depend on the results of three group games, beginning with the test against the Ugandan side.

FUS Rabat’s presence in the other group gives Morocco two routes towards the last four. The capital’s clubs face separate challenges: AS FAR must defend their title, while FUS have to find a way through a section that includes Sundowns and the hosts.

As of 27 October, the final representative has not been confirmed. Nigeria’s Edo Queens and Ghana’s Ampem Darkoa are due to resume their encounter in Cairo on 29 October. Play will restart at the beginning of extra time with the score at 2-2, with two fifteen-minute periods followed by a new penalty shoot-out if the teams remain level.

The winners will complete Group B. That place must therefore remain open in the schedule: neither Edo Queens nor Ampem Darkoa can yet be described as qualified. USFAS Bamako’s opponents on 2 November will be determined by this final step.

Group A

• FC Masar
• Mamelodi Sundowns
• FUS Rabat
• Lekié Football Filles

Group B

• AS FAR
• Kawempe Muslim Ladies
• USFAS Bamako
• WAFU B representative, to be confirmed

All times are in Brazzaville (UTC+1). Cairo is one hour ahead in November: 14:00 in Cairo is 13:00 in Brazzaville.

1 November

• 13:00 — FUS Rabat – Lekié Football Filles
• 16:00 — FC Masar – Mamelodi Sundowns

2 November

• 13:00 — AS FAR – Kawempe Muslim Ladies
• 16:00 — USFAS Bamako – WAFU B representative

4 November

• 13:00 — Lekié Football Filles – Mamelodi Sundowns
• 16:00 — FC Masar – FUS Rabat

5 November

• 13:00 — AS FAR – USFAS Bamako
• 16:00 — WAFU B representative – Kawempe Muslim Ladies

7 November

• 13:00 — Lekié Football Filles – FC Masar
• 13:00 — Mamelodi Sundowns – FUS Rabat

8 November

• 13:00 — WAFU B representative – AS FAR
• 13:00 — Kawempe Muslim Ladies – USFAS Bamako

The top two in each group advance to the semi-finals on 11 November. The Group B winners face the Group A runners-up at 13:00, followed by the Group A winners against the Group B runners-up at 16:00, both in Brazzaville time. The third-place match is scheduled for 14 November at 13:00.

The final will be played at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia on Sunday 15 November at 16:00 Brazzaville time. Between the opening fixture and the trophy presentation, the contenders must negotiate the group phase and knockout matches. The continental title also brings a place in the qualifying round of the 2027 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup.

AS FAR arrive with a crown to protect, Mamelodi Sundowns with the ambition to reclaim it, and their opponents with an opportunity to change the established order. The first answers will come on 1 November. The programme above uses the official times available on 27 October, converted to Brazzaville time.

Explore the women’s team pages for AS FAR, Mamelodi Sundowns, FC Masar, FUS Rabat, Lekié Football Filles, Kawempe Muslim Ladies and USFAS Bamako.