CAF Women's Champions League

The CAF Women's Champions League (french: Ligue des Champions Féminine de la CAF; ar, دوري أبطال إفريقيا للسيدات), sometimes abbreviated as ''CAF WCL'', is an annual international women's association football club competition in Africa organized by the Confederation of African Football, involving the continent's top women's club teams. 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''. This tournament was launched on 12 September that year. South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns beat Hasaacas Ladies of Ghana 2-0 as they made history and won the first ever Women's African Champions League title in Cairo.

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 upcoming edition to submit viable club licensing documents to them by 31 May 2022. The second edition witnessed AS FAR of Morocco, crowned champions after defeating Mamelodi Sundowns 4-0 in the final.

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. 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). 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

2022

In 2022, CAF introduced prize money for the eight participants in group stage for the first time in an African football club competition.

Results

Records and statistics

Winners by club

By nation

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* Malabo Kings (1){{refn, group=note, Malabo Kings finished 4th in 2021.

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* Bayelsa Queens (1){{refn, group=note, Bayelsa Queens finished 3rd in 2022.

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* Simba Queens (1){{refn, group=note, Simba Queens finished 4th in 2022.

Performances by region

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!Federation (Region)
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, COSAFA (Southern Africa)
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, WAFU (West Africa)
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, UNIFFAC (Central Africa)
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, CECAFA (East Africa)
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Awards

Most Valuable Player

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!Year!!Player!!Club!!Ref.
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, align=center, 2021, , {{flagicon, RSA Andile Dlamini, , {{flagicon, RSA Mamelodi Sundowns
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, align=center, 2022, , {{flagicon, MAR Fatima Tagnaout, , {{flagicon, MAR AS FAR
,

Top scorers by tournament

The top scorer award is given for most goals in the main tournament phases.
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, -
! Season !! Top scorer !! Team !! Goals !! Ref.
, -
, align=center, 2021, , {{flagicon, GHA Evelyn Badu, , {{flagicon, GHA Hasaacas Ladies, , align=center, 5
,
, -
, align=center, 2022, , {{flagicon, MAR Ibtissam Jraïdi, , {{flagicon, MAR AS FAR, , align=center, 6
, {{Cite web, date=14 November 2022, title=CAF Women's Champions League 2022: Lethal Ibtissam Jraidi wins golden boot, url=https://www.cafonline.com/caf-women-champions-league/2022/news/caf-women-s-champions-league-2022-lethal-ibtissam-jraidi-wins-golden-boot, website= CAFOnline.com, access-date=14 November 2022

See also

*FIFA Women's Club World Cup
**AFC Women's Club Championship
**Copa Libertadores Femenina
**UEFA Women's Champions League

Notes & references

Notes

{{reflist, group=note, 30em

References

{{reflist, 30em

External links

* {{official website, https://www.cafonline.com/caf-women-champions-league/

{{CAF Women's Champions League
{{CAF competitions
{{International women's club football

{{DEFAULTSORT:CAF Women's Champions League
CAF Women's Champions League
Confederation of African Football club competitions
Women's association football competitions in Africa
Recurring sporting events established in 2020
2020 establishments in Africa
Multi-national professional sports leagues