Ongos Ladies get CAF Champions League challenge going
Football
The race for a place at the CAF Women’s Champions League finals kicks into gear today with the start of the Cosafa Qualifiers that are being staged in Blantyre, Malawi.It will be the fourth edition of the regional preliminaries, with only the winning side among the eight clubs joining holders Mamelodi Sundowns in the continental showpiece event later this year.
Sundowns, who lifted the regional trophy in 2021 and 2023, have a bye through this stage of the competition, but there is a return to the preliminaries for 2022 champions Green Buffaloes of Zambia.
They open their campaign this year with a clash against debutants University of the Western Cape from South Africa (kick-off 15:00 Namibian time), who have been runners-up to Sundowns in their domestic league for the last three seasons.
It will be a fascinating battle between a side with plenty of know-how in this competition and a UWC team that must make the step up while boosted by the presence of several players with international experience.
The other game in Group A sees Herentals Queens from Zimbabwe, also on debut, take on FC Ongos of Namibia, who return for the first time since 2021. Ongos played in the inaugural CAF Women’s Champions League | Cosafa Qualifier as Tura Magic and lost all three matches without scoring a goal, but are since under new owners and have a change in name. That match is at 12:00.
Head coach Shama Gure has been assessing new players in the build-up to the regional finals and is confident the team under the captaincy of Lovisa Mulunga can surprise.
“We are roping in five new players to strengthen the squad. We respect every team in the group, we won’t look down on any team, and we will remain humble, heading into this fixture,” Gure was quoted in a recent media report.
Young Buffaloes from Eswatini, back for a third year in a row, take on ‘home’ side Ascent Academy, who are based in the Malawian city of Lilongwe.
Ascent Academy are also appearing for the first time, the fifth team of the eight who are on debut and are likely to enjoy vociferous support from locals.
The group stages are played in a round-robin format with the top two teams in each pool advancing to the semifinals, where the top side in Group A will take on the runner-up in Group B, and vice-versa.
The winner of each of the semifinals contest the final on August 24. No bronze medal match will be played.
The Ongos Ladies player squad
Lesego Gloria Moeng (Botswana), Twelikondjele Amukoto, Iina Ndapewa Katuta, Mbali Yaloa (South African), Elmarie Ellen Fredericks, Juliana Skrywer, Fiola Vliete, Anna Marie Shikusho, Vijakura Tjingaete, Beverly Uueziua, Ivone Kooper, Lydiana Nanamus, Agnes Kauzuu, Memory Ngonda, Juliana Blou, Melisa Eises, Lovisa Mulunga, Julia Usuta Rutjindo, Utuzuvira Mbakondja Kahiriri, Anchen Engelbrecht, Charlotte Richter, Jordan Wallace.
Broadcast details: SuperSport TV, FIFA+ streaming, YouTube channel of Cosafa TV.