CAF Women's Champions League
{{short description|African women's club football competition}}
{{distinguish|Women's Africa Cup of Nations}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox football tournament
| image = CAF Women's CL (logo).png
| imagesize = 200
| organiser = CAF
| founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2020|9|12}}
| region = Africa
| number of teams = {{ubl|Final tournament: 8|Total: 33}}
| current champions = {{ubl|{{fbaicon|DRC}} TP Mazembe|(1st title)}}
| most successful club = {{ubl|{{fbaicon|RSA}} Mamelodi Sundowns|(2 titles)}}
| broadcasters = {{plainlist|
- SuperSport (Sub-Saharan Africa)
- BeIN Sports (MENA, Canada, USA, Turkey, Asia-Pacific, Australia & New Zealand)
- [http://youtube.com/user/myafricanfootball CAF TV] and [http://youtube.com/user/FIFATV FIFA TV] on YouTube (live-match streaming){{Cite web|date=5 November 2021|title=TotalEnergies Women's Champions League: Global TV stations and online platforms to show inaugural tournament around the world|url=https://www.cafonline.com/caf-women-champions-league/news/totalenergies-women-s-champions-league-global-tv-stations-and-online-platforms-t|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105074424/https://www.cafonline.com/caf-women-champions-league/news/totalenergies-women-s-champions-league-global-tv-stations-and-online-platforms-t |archive-date=5 November 2021|website=CAFOnline.com|access-date=5 November 2021}}
}}
| website = {{Official website|https://www.cafonline.com/caf-women-champions-league/}}
| current = 2024 CAF WCL
}}
| class="wikitable floatright" style="text-align:left; margin-top:15px; font-size:85%"
|+ Winners | |
| Season | CAF Women's Champions League |
|---|---|
| style="text-align:center" | 2021 | {{fbaicon|RSA}} Mamelodi Sundowns |
| style="text-align:center" | 2022 | {{fbaicon|MAR}} AS FAR |
| style="text-align:center" | 2023
|{{fbaicon|RSA}} Mamelodi Sundowns | |
| style="text-align:center" | 2024
|{{fbaicon|DRC}} TP Mazembe |
The CAF Women's Champions League ({{langx|fr|Ligue des Champions Féminine de la CAF}}; {{langx|ar|دوري أبطال إفريقيا للسيدات}}), sometimes abbreviated as CAF WCL, is an annual African women's association football club competition launched on 12 September 2020{{Cite web |last=Diamond |first=Drew |date=2023-11-16 |title=South African club Mamelodi Sundowns to release Netflix documentary |url=https://herfootballhub.com/south-african-club-mamelodi-sundowns-to-release-netflix-documentary/ |access-date=2023-11-16 |website=Her Football Hub |language=en-GB}} and organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).{{Cite web|date=3 November 2021|title=African women's football primed for new chapter|url=https://www.fifa.com/news/african-womens-football-primed-for-new-chapter|website=FIFA.com|access-date=6 November 2021}}{{Cite web|last=Grainey|first=Tim|date=31 October 2021|title=The Week in Women's Football: African Champions League; COSAFA; DR Congo controversy|url=http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/the-week-in-women-s-football-african-champions-league-tanzania-wins-cosafa-dr-congo-controversy-4390914|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025123123/https://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/the-week-in-women-s-football-african-champions-league-tanzania-wins-cosafa-dr-congo-controversy-4390914|archive-date=25 October 2021|website=Tribal Football|access-date=1 November 2021}} It is the female counterpart of the CAF Champions League.
History
CAF cancelled the 2020 Women's Africa Cup of Nations at a virtual executive meeting on 30 June citing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on association football in Africa as the reason and rather approved the creation of the CAF Women's Champions League{{cite web|date=30 June 2020|url=https://www.cafonline.com/news-center/news/decisions-of-caf-executive-meeting-30-june-2020|title=Decisions of CAF Executive Meeting – 30 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200701010652/https://www.cafonline.com/news-center/news/decisions-of-caf-executive-meeting-30-june-2020|archive-date=1 July 2020|website=CAFOnline.com|access-date=1 July 2020|quote=Due to challenging conditions, the 2020 edition of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations has been cancelled. Meanwhile, the CAF Women’s Champions League will be launched in 2021. The format and other details will be communicated in due course.}} which launched on 12 September that year.{{Cite web|date=5 July 2021|title=CAF Women's Champions League takes one giant leap towards realization|url=https://www.cafonline.com/caf-women-champions-league/news/caf-women-s-champions-league-takes-one-giant-leap-towards-realization|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106181522/https://www.cafonline.com/caf-women-champions-league/news/caf-women-s-champions-league-takes-one-giant-leap-towards-realization|archive-date=6 November 2021|website=CAFOnline.com|access-date=6 July 2021}} South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns won the inaugural title 2-0 against Hasaacas Ladies of Ghana in Cairo.{{cite web|date=19 November 2021|title=Remember the name: Mamelodi Sundowns becomes the first ever WCL champions!|url=https://www.cafonline.com/caf-women-champions-league/news/remember-the-name-mamelodi-sundowns-becomes-the-first-ever-wcl-champions|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201133716/https://www.cafonline.com/caf-women-champions-league/news/remember-the-name-mamelodi-sundowns-becomes-the-first-ever-wcl-champions|archive-date=1 December 2021|website=CAFOnline.com|access-date=6 January 2022}}{{Cite web|date=19 November 2021|title=Women's African Champions League: Mamelodi Sundowns win inaugural title|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/africa/59337891|website=BBC Sport|access-date=14 November 2022}}{{Cite web|last=Mjikeliso|first=Sibusiso|date=19 November 2021|title=Sundowns Ladies make history by winning first-ever CAF Women's Champions League title|url=https://www.news24.com/sport/soccer/psl/sundowns-ladies-make-history-by-winning-first-ever-caf-womens-champions-league-title-20211119|access-date=14 November 2022|website=BBC Sport|language=en-US}}
On 18 April 2022, CAF issued a press release to its member associations wishing to engage their domestic league champions in the qualification procedures for the 2022 edition to submit viable club licensing documents to them by 31 May.{{cite press release|date=18 April 2022|url=https://www.cafonline.com/development/women-football/news/caf-club-licensing-process-for-totalenergies-caf-women-s-champions-league-2022-n|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419222313/https://www.cafonline.com/development/women-football/news/caf-club-licensing-process-for-totalenergies-caf-women-s-champions-league-2022-n|archive-date=19 April 2022|title=CAF Club Licensing process for TotalEnergies CAF Women's Champions League 2022 now open|publisher=CAFOnline.com|access-date=29 June 2022}}{{cite journal|title=CAF Women's Champions League 2022 - Participation Criteria, Club Licensing process and Stadium requirements|date=18 April 2022|url=https://www.cafonline.com/media/rx5lo1mg/rnndbqlzebplpmgbmgxw.pdf|journal=CAFOnline.com|language=en|access-date=29 June 2022}} That edition was won by AS FAR of Morocco after beating then-defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns 4-0 in the final.{{Cite web|date=13 November 2022|title=ASFAR dethrone Mamelodi Sundowns to win first CAF Women's Champions League title|url=https://www.cafonline.com/caf-women-champions-league/2022/news/asfar-dethrone-mamelodi-sundowns-to-win-first-caf-women-s-champions-league-title|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114070552/https://www.cafonline.com/caf-women-champions-league/2022/news/asfar-dethrone-mamelodi-sundowns-to-win-first-caf-women-s-champions-league-title|archive-date=14 November 2022|website=CAFOnline.com|access-date=14 November 2022}}
On 19 May 2023, CAF named Ivory Coast as host for the 3rd edition of the tournament, posing it as part of the country's preparations and readiness to stage the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in January and February 2024.{{cite web|date=19 May 2023|title=Côte d'Ivoire to host 2023 CAF Women's Champions League|url=https://www.cafonline.com/caf-womens-champions-league/news/cote-d-ivoire-to-host-2023-caf-women-s-champions-league/|website=CAFOnline.com|access-date=4 June 2023}} South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns reclaimed their title 3-0 against SC Casablanca from Morocco.{{Cite web |last=Shelat |first=Neel |title=CAF Women's Champions League: Mamelodi Sundowns Reclaim Their Crown With A Perfect Campaign |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/neelshelat/2023/11/20/caf-womens-champions-league-mamelodi-sundowns-reclaim-their-crown-with-a-perfect-campaign/ |access-date=2024-05-17 |website=Forbes |language=en}}
On 15 October 2024, CAF announced Morocco as the hosts for the 4th edition of the tournament. TP Mazembe of the DR Congo won 1-0 against hosts AS FAR of Morocco.{{Cite web |last=Shelat |first=Neel |title=TP Mazembe Shock Hosts To Win The 2024 CAF Women's Champions League |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/neelshelat/2024/11/23/tp-mazembe-shock-hosts-to-win-the-2024-caf-womens-champions-league/ |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=Forbes |language=en}}
Sponsorship
This tournament uses the same sponsors as other major CAF competitions, including the CAF Champions League.
Format
The format for the first edition saw the champions of each of the six CAF zones play for a spot in the competition.{{Cite web|date=5 July 2021|title=TotalEnergies CAF Women's Champions League WAFU B draw kicks-off a new era|url=https://www.cafonline.com/caf-women-champions-league/news/totalenergies-caf-women-s-champions-league-wafu-b-draw-kicks-off-a-new-era|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106181519/https://www.cafonline.com/caf-women-champions-league/news/totalenergies-caf-women-s-champions-league-wafu-b-draw-kicks-off-a-new-era|archive-date=6 November 2021|website=CAFOnline.com|access-date=3 October 2021}}{{cite web|date=20 August 2021|title=CECAFA Zonal Women's Champions League Qualifiers set|url=https://www.cafonline.com/development/women-football/news/cecafa-zonal-women-s-champions-league-qualifiers-set|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129180726/https://www.cafonline.com/development/women-football/news/cecafa-zonal-women-s-champions-league-qualifiers-set|archive-date=29 November 2021|website=CAFOnline.com|access-date=3 October 2021}} They are joined by the hosts and an extra team from the zone of the defending/reigning/current Women's Africa Cup of Nations champions (for the inaugural edition only).{{Cite web|last=Komugisha|first=Usher|author-link=Usher Komugisha|date=2020-09-12|title=CAF reveals women's champions league format|url=https://panafricanfootball.com/2020/09/12/caf-womens-champions-league/|url-status=dead|website=Pan-African Football|language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925030723/https://panafricanfootball.com/2020/09/12/caf-womens-champions-league/|archive-date=25 September 2020|access-date=30 June 2021}} The tournament is currently played in two groups of four teams. Since the 2022 edition, the spot reserved for the additional team from the CAF sub-region of the incumbent Women's AFCON is given instead to this tournament's defending champions.
Prizes
=2021-2023=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
!Final position !Prize money |
| style="background:gold;"
|Champions | align="right" |US$400,000 |
| style="background:silver;"
|Runners-up | align="right" |US$400,000 |
| bgcolor=cfaa88
|3rd place | align="right" |US$250,000 |
| 4th place
| align="right" |US$200,000 |
| 3rd in group stage
| align="right" |US$150,000 |
| 4th in group stage
| align="right" |US$100,000 |
=2024=
In 2024, CAF announced a 52% increase in the prize money.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-07 |title=CAF increases CAF Women's Champions League prize money {{!}} soccer |url=https://www.sabcsport.com/soccer/news/caf-increases-caf-women-s-champions-league-prize-money |access-date=2024-11-10 |website=SABC |language=en}}
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
!Final position !Prize money |
| style="background:gold;"
|Champions | align="right" |US$600,000 |
| style="background:silver;"
|Runners-up | align="right" |US$400,000 |
| bgcolor=cfaa88
|3rd place | align="right" |US$350,000 |
| 4th place
| align="right" |US$300,000 |
| 3rd in group stage
| align="right" |US$200,000 |
| 4th in group stage
| align="right" |US$150,000 |
Broadcast coverage
Below are the current broadcast rights holders of this competition:{{Cite web |date=2023-05-11 |title=CAF TV and CAFONLINE to show ALL CAF Women's Champions League matches |url=https://www.cafonline.com/caf-womens-champions-league/news/caf-tv-and-cafonline-to-show-all-caf-womens-champions-league-matches/ |access-date=2023-11-05 |website=CAF |language=en-GB}}
| class="wikitable"
!Country/Region !Channels |
| {{flag|Morocco}}
|SNRT |
| {{flag|Ivory Coast}}
|RTI |
| {{flag|South Africa}}
|SABC |
| {{flag|Tanzania}}
|Azam |
| {{flag|Egypt}}
|On-Time Sport |
| {{flag|Togo}}
|New World TV |
| {{flag|Ghana}}
|TBC |
| {{flag|Uganda}}
|TBC |
| {{flag|Europe}} |
| {{flagicon|Arab League}} MENA |
| Worldwide |
Results
| class="wikitable"
|+Key | width="40px" bgcolor="#FBCEB1" align="center"| | Match was won during extra time |
| width="40px" bgcolor="#cedff2" align="center"|
| Match won after a penalty shoot-out |
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|+CAF Women's Champions League finals |
| scope="col"|Season
!scope="col"|Winners !scope="col"|Score !scope="col"|Runners-up !scope="col"|Venue !scope="col"|Attendance |
|---|
| scope="row" style="text-align:center"|2021
|{{fbaicon|RSA}} Mamelodi Sundowns |align=center| 2–0 |{{fbaicon|GHA}} Hasaacas Ladies |align=center|0{{refn|group=note|The final was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa.}} |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center"|2022
|{{fbaicon|MAR}} AS FAR |align=center| 4–0 |{{fbaicon|RSA}} Mamelodi Sundowns |Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat |align=center|15,000 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center"|2023
|{{fbaicon|RSA}} Mamelodi Sundowns |align=center| 3–0 |{{fbaicon|MAR}} SC Casablanca |Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium, Korhogo |align=center|20,000 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center"|2024
|{{fbaicon|DRC}} TP Mazembe |align=center|1–0 |{{fbaicon|MAR}} AS FAR |Ben M'Hamed El Abdi Stadium, El Jadida |align=center|15,000 |
| scope="row" style="text-align:center"|2025
| |align=center|– | | |align=center| |
Records and statistics
=Winners by club=
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||
| Club
!Winners !Runners-up !class="unsortable"|Years won !class="unsortable"|Years runners-up | ||
|---|---|---|
| {{fbaicon|RSA}} Mamelodi Sundowns | align="center"|2 | align="center"|1
|2022 |
| {{fbaicon|MAR}} AS FAR | align="center"|1 | align="center"|1
|2022 |2024 |
| {{fbaicon|DRC}} TP Mazembe | align="center"|1 | align="center"|0
|2024 | |
| {{fbaicon|GHA}} Hasaacas Ladies | align="center"|0 | align="center"|1
| |2021 |
| {{fbaicon|MAR}} SC Casablanca | align="center"|0 | align="center"|1
| |2023 |
=By nation=
| class="wikitable sortable"
!width=135|Nation !Winners !Runners-up !3rd Places !4th places !Winner !Runners-up !3rd Place !4th place |
| {{fba|RSA}}
|align=center|2 |align=center|1 |align=center|0 |align=center|0 |{{smalldiv| }} |{{smalldiv| }} |{{smalldiv| }} |{{smalldiv| }} |
| {{fba|MAR}}
|align=center|1 |align=center|2 |align=center|2 |align=center|0 |{{smalldiv| AS FAR (1) }} |{{smalldiv| SC Casablanca (1) AS FAR (1) }} |{{smalldiv| AS FAR (2) }} |{{smalldiv| }} |
| {{fba|DRC}}
|align=center|1 |align=center|0 |align=center|0 |align=center|0 |{{smalldiv| TP Mazembe (1) }} |{{smalldiv| }} |{{smalldiv| }} |{{smalldiv| }} |
| {{fba|GHA}}
|align=center|0 |align=center|1 |align=center|0 |align=center|1 |{{smalldiv| }} |{{smalldiv| Hasaacas Ladies (1) }} |{{smalldiv| }} |{{smalldiv| Ampem Darkoa (1) }} |
| {{fba|NGR}}
|align=center|0 |align=center|0 |align=center|1 |align=center|1 |{{smalldiv| }} |{{smalldiv| }} |{{smalldiv| Bayelsa Queens (1) }} |{{smalldiv| Edo Queens (1) }} |
| {{fba|EGY}}
|align=center|0 |align=center|0 |align=center|1 |align=center|0 |{{smalldiv| }} |{{smalldiv| }} |{{smalldiv| FC Masar (1) }} |{{smalldiv| }} |
| {{fba|EQG}}
|align=center|0 |align=center|0 |align=center|0 |align=center|1 |{{smalldiv| }} |{{smalldiv| }} |{{smalldiv| }} |{{smalldiv| Malabo Kings (1) }} |
| {{fba|TAN}}
|align=center|0 |align=center|0 |align=center|0 |align=center|1 |{{smalldiv| }} |{{smalldiv| }} |{{smalldiv| }} |{{smalldiv| Simba Queens (1) }} |
=Performances by region=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;
!Federation (Region) !Clubs Winners !Clubs Runners-up !Titles |
| COSAFA (Southern Africa)
|Mamelodi Sundowns (2) |Mamelodi Sundowns (1) !align=center| 2 |
| UNAF (North Africa)
|AS FAR (1) |SC Casablanca (1) !align=center| 1 |
| UNIFFAC (Central Africa)
|TP Mazembe (1) | !align=center| 1 |
| WAFU (West Africa)
| |Hasaacas Ladies (1) !align=center| 0 |
| CECAFA (East Africa)
| | !align=center| 0 |
=All-time top scorers=
{{Updated|25 November 2024}}
Players with the most goals in the competition. Bold players still active.
| class="wikitable" | |||
| Rank | Top scorer | Goals | Clubs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | {{flagicon|RSA}} Melinda Kgadiete | 7 | Mamelodi Sundowns |
| rowspan="2" | 2 | {{flagicon|MAR}} Ibtissam Jraïdi | 6 | AS FAR |
| {{flagicon|MAR}} Doha El Madani
|6 | |||
| rowspan="6" | 4 | {{flagicon|GHA}} Evelyn Badu | 5 | Hasaacas Ladies |
| {{flagicon|RSA}} Lelona Daweti | 5 | Mamelodi Sundowns | |
| {{flagicon|MAR}} Sanaâ Mssoudy | 5 | AS FAR | |
| {{flagicon|LES}} Boitumelo Rabale | 5 | Mamelodi Sundowns | |
| {{flagicon|BOT}} Refilwe Tholakele | 5 | Mamelodi Sundowns | |
| {{flagicon|MAR}} Fatima Tagnaout | 5 | AS FAR | |
| rowspan="3" | 10 | {{flagicon|MLI}} Oumou Kone | 3 | AS Mandé |
| {{flagicon|GHA}} N-yanyimaya Gnabekan | 3 | Ampem Darkoa Ladies | |
| {{flagicon|CIV}} Stéphanie Gbogou | 3 | Malabo Kings |
=Clean sheets all time list=
{{Updated|25 November 2024}}
Players with the most clean sheets in the competition. Bold players still active.
| class="wikitable" | |||
| Rank | Keeper | Clean sheets | Clubs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | {{flagicon|MAR}} Khadija Er-Rmichi | 11 | AS FAR |
| 2 | {{flagicon|RSA}} Andile Dlamini | 10 | Mamelodi Sundowns |
| rowspan="3" | 3 | {{flagicon|EGY}} Habiba Emad | 3 | FC Masar |
| {{flagicon|DRC}} Fideline Ngoy | 3 | TP Mazembe | |
| {{flagicon|NGR}} Omini Oyono | 3 | Edo Queens |
Awards
See also
Notes & references
=Notes=
{{Reflist|group=note|30em}}
=References=
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{official website|https://www.cafonline.com/caf-womens-champions-league/}}
{{CAF Women's Champions League}}{{CAF Women's Champions League winners}}{{CAF Women's Champions League Most Valuable Player}}{{CAF Women's Champions League Top Scorer}}{{CAF Women's Champions League Best Goalkeeper}}{{CAF competitions}}
{{African sport club competitions}}
{{International women's club football}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:CAF Women's Champions League}}
Category:Confederation of African Football club competitions
Category:Women's association football competitions in Africa
Category:Recurring sporting events established in 2020