HERENTALS Queens, Zimbabwe’s perennial domestic champions, are set to embark on a quest for regional supremacy after being drawn into Group C of the Caf Women's Champions League Cosafa Qualifiers.
The draw, held in Johannesburg, pits the Zimbabwean side against Clube de Desportos da Costa do Sol of Mozambique and Olympic de Moroni of Comoros.
This year's tournament, which will feature a record 10 clubs, is scheduled to run from August 22 to 31 at the University of Johannesburg’s AW Muller Stadium.
As the seeded team in their group, Herentals Queens will be looking to translate their local dominance onto the regional stage.
The club has won the last three league titles and is currently third in the Zimbabwe Women’s Premier Soccer League standings, with ambitions of claiming the top spot.
Their domestic success provides a strong foundation as they prepare to face formidable opposition in a bid to secure the sole ticket to the CafF Women’s Champions League finals.
The Cosafa Qualifiers have seen a steady increase in participating teams, a testament to the growing interest in women's football in the region.
This year’s 10-team lineup is a significant jump from the six teams that competed in 2021. Eight teams participated in the 2023 and 2024 editions.
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The format will see the top team from each of the three groups, along with the best second-placed side, advancing to the semifinals.
Herentals Queens will have their work cut out for them, as they must navigate a tough group and then the knockout stages to emerge as champions.
Group A, for instance, features two-time winners and continental powerhouse Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa, alongside Ntopwa FC (Malawi), Beauties FC (Namibia) and Zesco Ndola Girls (Zambia).
Group B is equally competitive, with last year’s beaten finalists, Gaborone United Ladies FC (Botswana), vying for a spot against Young Buffalos (Eswatini) and Kicks4Life (Lesotho).
The pressure is on for Herentals Queens, as they represent Zimbabwe with the hopes of a nation on their shoulders.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe was drawn in Group A for the 2025 Under-17 Cosafa Cup tournament in a draw that was also held yesterday.
Zimbabwe are set to host the TotalEnergies Caf Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations Cosafa Qualifiers 2026 from September 11 to 20. The group stage draw has delivered some high-stakes matchups.
In what can be touted as the Group of Death, regional powerhouses Zambia and South Africa have been drawn together in Group B, alongside Madagascar and Malawi.
With only the top team from each group and the best second-placed side advancing to the semifinals, the competition will be fierce.
Zambia are the defending champions and the most successful team in the tournament's history, with South Africa a close second.
Hosts Zimbabwe headline Group A, where they will face Mozambique, Comoros and Eswatini.
Group C has last year's beaten finalists, Angola, Botswana, Mauritius and Lesotho.
This tournament is a crucial step for the young players, as the top three teams will qualify for the TotalEnergies Caf U17 Africa Cup of Nations finals.
The stakes are even higher this year, as those finals will serve as a qualifier for the newly expanded 48-team Fifa Under-17 World Cup, which will feature 10 teams from Africa.
