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CAF Women’s Champions League debutants University of the Western Cape are looking to pave their way to making their mark in continental football, as they prepare to take on the continent’s best teams at the CAF Morocco Women’s Champions League 2024 this month.
The university team joins fellow South African side, Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies FC, in the fourth edition taking place in the North African nation from November 9-23, where they will look to follow in the impressive footsteps of the reigning champions.
CAFOnline takes a look at UWC’s journey to the final and some of their attributes.
How they qualified:
UWC, who also make history by being the first university team to qualify for the CAF Women’s Champions League final, qualified after winning the COSAFA qualifiers in their first attempt in Namibia.
Despite losing to the Green Buffaloes in the opening match, they showed character in their other group matches and semi-finals to eventually clinch a place in the final where they had to overcome a stubborn Gaborone United by one score 9-8 on penalties, after a 1-1 deadlock.
Key player: Siphesihle Dlamini
The talented team has a number of talented players who have the potential to hurt any team in the finals.
In addition to the outfield players, the team is fortunate to have the acrobatic Siphesihle Dlamini in goal who was instrumental in the team qualifying for the continental final.
Dlamini showed remarkable composure, particularly during the penalty shootout in the final, where she made crucial saves that helped her team win the title. Her role as a goalkeeper is not only limited to the field, but she is also an inspiring leader for her teammates, bringing valuable confidence to the team.
The coach: Thinasonke Mbuli
Although this will be the university team’s first appearance in the CAF Women’s Champions League, international football will not be an entirely new experience for coach Thinasonke Mbuli.
Mbuli is the assistant to CAF Women’s Team Coach of the Year, Desiree Ellis, and was part of the technical team that orchestrated the CAF Women’s team’s first gold medal TotalEnergies for Banyana Banyana in Morocco two years ago.
Highly respected in South Africa as one of the most promising women’s football tacticians, Mbuli not only has a passion for developing future Banyana Banyana stars, but always makes it a priority that her players pay as much attention to their studies as well as football.
History of the CAF Women’s Champions League:
2024: First participation
