Herentals Queens and Lesotho Defence Force profiles
The CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifier Botswana 2026 will be played in Gaborone from August 20-29. There are eight teams competing this year as they all seek the single place reserved for the winners at the CAF Women’s Champions League continental finals.
Here are profiles of two of the teams: regular competitors Herentals Queens from Zimbabwe and the returning Lesotho Defence Force.
HERENTALS QUEENS
Herentals Queens will compete at the CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifier for the third time in as many years, having been consistent performers in their domestic league.
They are the second team from Zimbabwe to compete overall after Black Rhinos Queens reached the final of the inaugural regional championship five years ago, but missed out on qualification for the continental finals when they were beaten by South African side Mamelodi Sundowns.
Queens reached the semi-finals on debut in 2024 but lost 1-0 to Gaborone United.
This time around, they face last year’s beaten finalists ZESCO Ndola Girls from Zambia, defending champions Gaborone United of Botswana and Lesotho Defence Force in what is a tough Group A.
They started their 2024 campaign with a 3-1 victory over Ongos SC from Namibia, before a 1-0 win over 2022 champions Green Buffaloes showed their potential.
They lost their final pool match 1-0 to eventual champions UWC Ladies from South Africa and could not get past the semi-finals following that narrow defeat to Gaborone United.
They finished second in their three-team pool in 2025, missing out on a semi-final place as one of the best runners-up on goal difference.
Queens went down 2-0 to Mozambique’s Costa do Sol in their opener, but bounced back to beat Olympic de Moroni of Comoros 4-2.
TOURNAMENT FINISHES
2025 – Group Stages
2024 – Semifinals
2023 – Did not qualify
2022 – Did not qualify
2021 – Did not qualify
| DATE | VENUE | OPPONENT | ROUND | RES | GOALSCORERS |
| 15-8-24 | Blantyre | Ongos SC | Group Stages | 3-1 | Mafuruse, Tumbare, Chikore |
| 17-8-24 | Blantyre | Green Buffaloes | Group Stages | 1-0 | Mafuruse |
| 19-8-24 | Blantyre | UWC Ladies | Group Stages | 1-2 | Moyo |
| 22-8-24 | Blantyre | Gaborone United | Semifinals | 0-1 | – |
| 23-8-25 | Johannesburg | Costa do Sol | Group Stages | 0-2 | – |
| 27-8-25 | Johannesburg | Olympic de Moroni | Group Stages | 4-2 | Nyagumbo 3, Mabika |
GOALSCORERS
3 goals – Nyagumbo
2 goals – Mafuruse
1 goal – Chikore, Mabika, Moyo, Tumbare
HAT-TRICKS
Morelife Nyagumbo (vs Olympic de Moroni, 2025)
RECORDS AND SEQUENCES
Biggest win: 3-1 vs Ongos SC (2024); 4-2 vs Olympic de Moroni (2025)
Heaviest defeat: 0-2 vs Costa do Sol (2025)
Highest scoring match: 4-2 vs Olympic de Moroni (2025)
Longest winning run: 2 games (15-08-24 to 17-08-24)
Longest losing run: 3 games (from 19-08-24 to 23-08-25)
Longest unbeaten run: 2 games (15-08-24 to 17-08-24)
Longest run without a win: 3 games (from 19-08-24 to 23-08-25)
Total clean sheets: 1 match (17%)
Total failed to score: 1 match (33%)
Most goals scored in a competition: 5 (2024)
Most goals conceded in a competition: 4 (2024, 2025)
Group stage wins: 3 out of 5 (60%)
Knockout stage wins: 0 out of 1 (0%)
LESOTHO DEFENCE FORCE
Lesotho Defence Force return for a third appearance at the CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifier, but their first since 2023, having also competed in the inaugural event five years ago.
Their appearance in 2021 was a tough introduction to the regional competition as they lost 6-0 to eventual champions Mamelodi Sundowns and by the same scoreline to Double Action Ladies from Botswana.
They did, however, manage a first point when they drew 1-1 with Manzini Wanderers from Eswatini.
It was a much more competitive showing in 2023, but again they exited in the group stages.
They drew their opener 1-1 with Ntopwa FC from Malawi before narrow defeats to Botswana’s Double Action Ladies (1-0) and Zambia’s Green Buffaloes (2-1).
They have been drawn in a tough Group A alongside defending champions Gaborone United, last season’s beaten finalists ZESCO Ndola Girls and Herentals Queens from Zimbabwe.
TOURNAMENT FINISHES
2025 – Did not qualify
2024 – Did not qualify
2023 – Group Stages
2022 – Did not qualify
2021 – Group Stages
| DATE | VENUE | OPPONENT | ROUND | RES | GOALSCORERS |
| 26-8-21 | Durban | Mamelodi Sundowns | Group Stages | 0-6 | – |
| 28-8-21 | Durban | Manzini Wanderers | Group Stages | 1-1 | Lebakeng |
| 30-08-21 | Durban | Double Action Ladies | Group Stages | 0-6 | – |
| 30-8-23 | Durban | Ntopwa | Group Stages | 1-1 | Mohlolo |
| 1-9-23 | Durban | Double Action Ladies | Group Stages | 0-1 | – |
| 4-9-23 | Durban | Green Buffaloes | Group Stages | 1-2 | Nthala og |
GOALSCORERS
1 goal – Lebakeng, Mohlolo
Own goal – Nthala (Green Buffaloes)
HAT-TRICKS
None
RECORDS AND SEQUENCES
Biggest win: –
Heaviest defeat: 0-6 vs Mamelodi Sundowns (2021); 0-6 vs Double Action Ladies (2021)
Highest scoring match: 0-6 vs Mamelodi Sundowns (2021); 0-6 vs Double Action Ladies (2021)
Longest winning run: –
Longest losing run: 2 games (from 04-09-23 – present)
Longest unbeaten run: 1 game (twice)
Longest run without a win: 6 games (from 28-08-21 – present)
Total clean sheets: 0 matches (0%)
Total failed to score: 3 matches (50%)
Most goals scored in a competition: 2 (2023)
Most goals conceded in a competition: 13 (2021)
Group stage wins: 0 out of 6 (0%)
Knockout stage wins: –
