On Tuesday, ZESCO Ndola Girls safely arrived in Gaborone, Botswana, ahead of the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifier, which kicks off on Thursday, 20 August.
The Zambian champions (Total pa Total) head into the regional tournament looking to go one step further after an impressive campaign in 2025, when they reached the final on their tournament debut. ZESCO eventually lost to Botswana’s Gaborone United Ladies on penalties, narrowly missing out on qualification for the CAF Women’s Champions League continental finals.
This year’s competition will run from 20 to 29 August in Gaborone, with eight Southern African clubs competing for the region’s single qualification place at the continental finals. Matches will be played at GU Stadium.
ZESCO Ndola Girls in Group A
ZESCO have been drawn in Group A alongside defending champions and hosts Gaborone United Ladies, Herentals Queens of Zimbabwe and Lesotho Defence Force Ladies. The top two teams in the group will progress to the semi-finals.
The draw immediately sets up another potential showdown between ZESCO and Gaborone United following last year’s final.
ZESCO will also arrive with some confidence from their 2025 campaign. They became the first side to defeat South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns in regulation time in the history of the COSAFA qualifier, winning their semi-final 2-1. Eneless Phiri, who is again part of the ZESCO squad, was subsequently named Player of the Tournament.
The 26-player squad travelling for this year’s campaign includes Hazel Nali, Pauline Zulu, Majory Mulenga, Mable Bwalya, Esther Muchinga, Abigail Munkombwe, Elizabeth Mupeso, Dorothy Daka, Eneless Phiri, Penelope Mulubwa, Fridah Kabwe and Natasha Chileshe among others.
After coming agonisingly close last year, the target for ZESCO Ndola Girls is clear: return to the final, finish the job and secure Zambia’s place at the CAF Women’s Champions League finals.
OPENING FIXTURES
All games at the Gaborone United Stadium. All times CAT (GMT+2).
Thursday, August 20 – Group A
12h00: ZESCO Ndola Girls vs Herentals Queens
15h00: Gaborone United vs Lesotho Defence Force
Friday, August 21 – Group B
12h00: Costa do Sol vs Silver Strikers
15h00: Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies vs Nsingizini Hotspurs
