CAF Women's Champions League: eight clubs chase African crown and a place on the world stage
The sixth edition of the CAF Women's Champions League kicks off on Sunday, 1 November in Ismailia, Egypt. Eight sides are competing for the continental title, with extra at stake: the winner will represent Africa in the second round of qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women's Champions Cup. Holders AS FAR of Morocco intend to defend their crown against seven other contenders.
Rieltony LOUBOKO · Author profile ·
Listen to this story
Synthetic English voice · 2 min 50 s
For a fortnight, the Suez Canal Stadium will host the battle for supremacy in African women's football. Split into two groups of four teams, the eight qualified clubs begin their campaigns today, each aiming to succeed AS FAR, who were crowned champions in 2025. The Moroccan side return as holders, but the competition promises to be stiff.
The stakes go beyond the continental trophy, however. The club that wins this edition will also earn a place in the second round of qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women's Champions Cup, where they will meet North Korea's Naegohyang WFC in December. The finals of that global competition are scheduled for 27 to 31 January 2027 in Miami, in the United States.
Two groups, eight ambitions
Group A brings together Egyptian side FC Masar, South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns, Morocco's FUS Rabat and Cameroon's Lekié Football Filles. Group B pits AS FAR against Uganda's Kawempe Muslim Ladies, Mali's USFAS Bamako and Ghana's Ampem Darkoa.
The opening round already offers four fixtures. In Group A, FUS Rabat take on Lekié Football Filles at 14:00, followed by FC Masar against Mamelodi Sundowns at 17:00. In Group B, AS FAR begin their campaign against Kawempe Muslim Ladies at 14:00, while USFAS Bamako face Ampem Darkoa at 17:00.
The group stage runs until 8 November, before the knockout rounds that lead to the final on 15 November.
AS FAR face a field of ambitious rivals
With two titles, won in 2022 and 2025, AS FAR are among the most successful sides in the history of the competition. But the Moroccan club will have to reckon with Mamelodi Sundowns, twice winners in 2021 and 2023, as well as Tout Puissant Mazembe, champions in 2024, who are absent from this edition.
The roll of honour reflects the variety of clubs that have left their mark on the tournament since its creation. This new edition gives the eight representatives a chance to confirm their progress and to carry the ambitions of their respective leagues onto the continental stage.
In Ismailia, then, the battle is under way. For the eight contenders, it is not only about conquering Africa, but also about moving closer to a place on the world stage.