Eight teams confirmed for 2023 CAF Women's Champions League

The third edition of the continental competition is set to kick off on November 5 and stretch for two weeks until November 19.

Tanzania's JKT Queens will represent the CECAFA region having won the regional qualifiers held in Jinja, Uganda in August.

Last year, Simba Queens, also from Tanzania, represented the CECAFA region after defeating She Corporate FC of Uganda 1-0 in the Zonal Qualifiers' final in Dar es Salaam in August last year.

Kenya's Vihiga Queens failed to make their second appearance in the continental showdown after being bundled out of the qualifiers by Ethiopia CBE Women's FC in the semi-finals.

Huracanes FC from Equatorial Guinea completed the line-up of teams at the end of last week when the squad won the Central African Football Federations' Union (UNIFFAC) Qualifiers.

The Equatorial Guinea outfit had defeated the regional showdown holders, TP Mazembe Women’s FC of DR Congo, to secure their ticket to their first-ever appearance at the main event.

As tournament hosts, Athlético Abidjan will be hoping to make the host nation proud in their first attempt at continental glory. 

The Ivorian nation is currently continuing to build on the exciting mood now enjoyed across the nation in welcoming Africa to 2023 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations to be held next year.

Reigning champions, AS FAR Women’s FC, will be hoping to defend their crown, while Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies FC, who clinched the COSAFA Zonal Qualifiers' title without a single loss, will be hoping to reclaim the title they won in 2021.

Both AS FAR Women's FC and Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies FC return for their third appearance of the tournament, having qualified for each edition since the tournament’s 2021 inception.

The eight confirmed clubs are defending champions, AS FAR Women's FC of Morocco, Morocco's Sporting Club Casablanca (UNAF Zone winner), Mali's AS Mandé (WAFU A Zone winner), and hosts Athlético Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire).

Ampem Darkoa Ladies FC of Ghana (WAFU B Zone winner), JKT Queens of Tanzania (CECAFA Zone winners), Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies FC of South Africa (COSAFA Zone winner), and Huracanes FC of Equatorial Guinea (UNIFFAC Zone winner) wrap up the list.

In line with CAF president Patrice Motsepe’s commitment to growing the women’s game in Africa, CAF has set the Women’s Champions League’s winners' prize money to USD 400,000.