The CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifiers 2024 will take place in Blantyre, Malawi from August 15-24 where the eight competing sides will battle it out for a place at the continental finals.
It will be the fourth edition of the regional competition that was first launched in 2021, so the history around the event is still developing.
But there are several records that have been set, which in some cases teams and players will be hoping to beat in 2024.
MOST TROPHY WINS
Mamelodi Sundowns – 2
South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns have won two of the three previous COSAFA Qualifiers, taking the trophy in 2021 and 2023. They went on to lift the African title those years as well. Green Buffaloes from Zambia were regional champions in 2022 to ensure it was not a clean sweep for The Brazilians.
MOST GOALS IN A FINALS
52 goals in 2023
The COSAFA Qualifiers with the most goals was in 2023, when there were 52 goals scored in 16 games at an average of 3.25 per match. There were 42 goals scored in 2021 and 25 in 2022, when there were only eight games played. The tournament which has had the most goals per game was the very first three years ago with the 42 goals in 12 matches working out to 3.5 per match.
MOST MATCHES WON
Mamelodi Sundowns – 11
Sundowns have won 11 of the 13 matches they have played in the regional qualifiers, drawing the other two. They won five from five in 2021 and 2023, but drew with Double Action (1-1) and Green Buffaloes (0-0) in 2022 as they took the silver medal.
BIGGEST VICTORY
Mamelodi Sundowns 8-0 Olympic de Moroni
Sundowns scored eight goals, with seven separate scorers, as they defeated Comoros side Olympic de Moroni in the pool stages in 2023. Chuene Morifi, Tiisetso Makhubela (2), Boitumelo Rabale, Nonhlanhla Mthandi, Refilwe Tholekele, Salome Kekana and Miche Minnies were all on target as Sundowns only led 2-0 at halftime but turned on the style in the second half.
MOST GOALS IN A TOURNAMENT BY A PLAYER
Melinda Kgadiete (Mamelodi Sundowns), Ireen Lungu (Green Buffaloes) – 5
Sundowns striker Kgadiete netted five goals in the 2021 COSAFA Qualifier as she guided her team to the trophy, a feat that was repeated a year later by Ireen Lungu from Green Buffaloes. She also netted five times as Buffaloes stunned Sundowns on penalties in the final following a 0-0 draw.
MOST GOALS IN THE COSAFA QUALIFIERS
Melinda Kgadiete (Mamelodi Sundowns) – 8
Sundowns’ Kgadiete has a total of eight goals on CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifier history, which makes her the most prolific player in the tournament. She netted five times in 2021 and scored another three goals in 2022.
MOST GOALS BY A CLUB
Mamelodi Sundowns – 52
Sundowns have managed 52 goals in the three previous finals, conceding only four times. That makes them easily the most prolific team in the competition’s history.
EVER-PRESENTS
Green Buffaloes (Zambia)
The field for 2024 means that the only club who will have featured in all four of the CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifiers are Green Buffaloes. They lost in the semifinals in 2021 and 2023, and lifted the trophy in 2022. As Sundowns have qualified for the continental finals automatically as holders, they will not be present in the COSAFA competition in 2024.
