Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies will begin their CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA Qualifier campaign against debutants Nsingizini Hotspurs of Eswatini on 21 August, with both sides looking to make an early statement in Group B.
For Sundowns, the tournament presents another opportunity to return to the continental stage after missing out on the 2025 COSAFA final and subsequently failing to qualify for the CAF Women’s Champions League finals. The Brazilians enter the competition as two-time African champions and among the favourites to claim the region’s only qualification spot.
Nsingizini, meanwhile, arrive with nothing to lose and plenty to prove. The Eswatini champions are making their first appearance in the regional competition after ending Young Buffaloes Ladies long-standing domestic dominance with a 1-0 victory in the 2025/26 league decider.
Sundowns arrive with momentum
Sundowns head into the competition with an impressive domestic record. Before the WAFCON break, Coach Godfrey Sapula’s side had won all five of their Hollywoodbets Super League matches, scoring 21 goals without conceding.
However, the biggest challenge for Sapula will be bringing the squad together after a number of his players represented Banyana Banyana in WAFCON. With the international players only re-joining the squad two days before their opening match, Sapula acknowledged that integrating the two groups quickly will be important.
“For me, I have to be aligned with the vision of the team and obviously it’s to win the COSAFA tournament. The preparations are going very well. It’s just obviously the first challenge is to integrate two groups. Remember, we had a lot of players that went to WAFCON with Banyana Banyana and they are just joining us today, and its match day minus two. We’ve got to find a way to make the two groups one”.
Despite the limited preparation time with his full squad, Sapula remains clear about the team’s objective in Gaborone: to compete for the title and secure a return to the CAF Women’s Champions League Finals.
Nsingizini: debutants with confidence
Nsingizini may be newcomers to the COSAFA stage, but their domestic campaign suggests they will not simply be making up the numbers. Their 2025/26 league title was secured after a tense 1-0 victory over defending champions Young Buffaloes, ending more than a decade of dominance.
Captain Nomfundo Bhembe has already made the teams ambition clear, saying the side wants to progress beyond the group stages. Head coach Mpendulo Mawelela has also expressed confidence that his players can represent Eswatini well.
One player Sundowns will have to watch closely is Kudakwashe Basopo. The Zimbabwean forward has been among Nsingizini’s most dangerous attacking players, scoring five goals in an 8-1 league victory over Sidvwashini earlier this year.
Bhembe will also be an important figure for the Eswatini champions. The midfielder and captain played a key role in their historic league triumph and brings leadership to a side entering unfamiliar territory.
The Tactical battle
The main tactical question will be whether Nsingizini can cope with Sundowns ability to control possession and create pressure in the final third. Sundowns will look to control the game and use their technical quality to create chances, while Nsingizini will need to remain organised, frustrate their opponents and look for opportunities on the counter.
For Sundowns, the challenge will be avoiding complacency. Sapula stressed that their reputation and past success will not be enough to win matches in Gaborone.
“You will not win because of who you are or what you have done in the past. You still need to put in the work and effort”.
The Sundowns coach also pointed to the growth of women’s football in the region, warning against underestimating teams based simply on their status as debutants.
He highlighted Malawi’s progress at WAFCON as an example of how quickly women’s game is developing, while also pointing to the experience within teams competing in their COSAFA group.
“People see the name and think these are debutants, but you will find that in that team there are players that have played COSAFA before, just moving from one team to the other. They have players that have experience in those teams”.
The experience could make the group more competitive than labels suggest, particularly with Malawi’s Silver Strikers also brining players who featured at WAFCON.
More than just an opening match
The importance of the fixtures goes beyond three points. With only the top two teams in Group B advancing to the semi-finals, a positive opening result would immediately strengthen Sundowns position in a group that also contains Costa do Sol and Silver strikers.
For Sundowns, the ultimate objective is clear:
Win the regional competition and secure a place at the CAF Women’s Champions League continental finals. For Nsingizini, their debut is an opportunity to announce themselves on the regional stage.
When the two sides meet in Gaborone, it will be clash between a club with continental pedigree and a newly crowned champion eager to prove that it belongs among Southern Africa’s best.
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