West Africa Search For a Women's Champions League Title Continues

The CAFWCL trophy has continued to elude West African clubs despite holding records of most Women's Nation Cup title.

 

Nigeria and Ghana are some of the stronghold and development of women's football in Africa but clubs from both countries have struggled since the introduction of CAF Women's Champions League in 2020.

 

The CAF Women's Champions League is the top competition for women's club football in the continent.

 

Started in 2021, The CAF Women's Champions League is a tournament of eight teams with Each of the six sub-confederations of CAF—COSAFA (Southern Africa), CECAFA (East Africa), UNAF (North Africa), UNIFFAC (Central Africa), WAFU Zone A (West Africa), and WAFU Zone B (West Africa)—contributes to the tournament with a member association each. The hosting country and defending champions also get automatic spots.

 

AS Mande of Mali in WAFU A, Hasaacas Ladies of Ghana and Rivers Angels of Nigeria in WAFU B were representatives in the first-ever CAFWCL held in Cairo, Egypt in 2021 But both AS Mande and Rivers Angels crashed out in the group stage after both teams losing two out of their three group matches.

 

Hasaacas Ladies who reached the final were beaten by South Africa club Mamelodi Sundowns to clinch the maiden edition title.

 

The return of the second edition saw WAFU B being represented by Bayelsa Queens  of Nigeria after winning Zonal qualifiers while WAFU A was represented by Determined Girls of Liberia.

 

Determine Girls failing to win a single game in the group Stage were eliminated while Bayelsa Queens were eliminated in the Semifinals by eventual champions AS FAR of Morocco.

 

The West Africa search of women's club football glory continues in 2023 as the third edition was hosted in Ivory Coast, a West Africa country.

 

The region was represented by Athlético Club of Abidjan and AS Mande of Mali from WAFU A while Ghana Ampem Darkoa was WAFU B representative.

 

Just like the former editions, all WAFU A representatives were eliminated in the group Stage While Ampem was knock out in the Semifinals by SC Casablanca.

 

Ampem Darkoa finished fourth while South Africa Mamelodi Sundowns were crowned champions for the second time.

 

Senegal Aigles de la Medina from WAFU A and Nigeria Edo Queens from WAFU B were in the 2024 hosted in Morocco.

 

Edo Queens gave West Africa hope after eliminating defending Champions Mamelodi Sundowns but their journey was cut short in the Semifinals after losing 3-1 to winners of the edition TP Mazembe.

The search for a maiden crown for any West Africa club will continue in the 2025 edition that will see UNIFFAC region being represented by two clubs as the defending Champions.





Evelyn Edefe

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