No plans to expand African Women's Champions League

Africa's Women's Champions League will not expand from its eight-team finals format for the foreseeable future, according to a top football official on the continent.

The fourth edition of the tournament will kick off in Morocco on Saturday, with Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa set to defend their title.

Financial limitations are the main reason why the Confederation of African Football (Caf) will not increase the number of teams competing or switch to copy the structure of the 16-team men's equivalent, which uses home and away games across six group-stage matches before two-legged knockout ties from the quarter-finals onwards.

"We cannot afford home and away matches," said Meske Goshime, the head of the women’s game at Caf.

"Our clubs are not financially strong [enough] to travel three or four times and play home and away. Travelling in Africa is not really easy - you have to catch flights, travel sometimes for 24 hours.

"Zonal qualifiers will continue for some time.

"We want more member associations engaging in the qualifiers before we can push it forward and say that we need a 12-team or a 16-team final."

Goshime added that Caf's priority is to use the competition to improve the quality of domestic leagues around the continent, which is then anticipated to have a knock-on effect and boost the standard of national sides.

There is once again a much-changed line-up for this year's Women's Champions League, with five sides appearing for the first time.

A total of 23 different clubs have featured since the inaugural tournament in 2021, with two-time champions Sundowns and Morocco’s AS FAR, the winners in 2022, both ever-presents.

"We are focussing on making sure that we develop this strong brand of the Women’s Champions League and making it competitive," Goshime added.

"We are also making sure the game is professionalised and that domestic leagues are strong. Once it has been done we can expand the number of teams competing in the final stage."

Caf says it has increased the prize money on offer by 52% this year, with every side guaranteed at least $150,000 (£116,000).

The winners of the final on 23 November are set to pick up a cheque for $600,000 (£463,00) while the runners-up will receive $400,000 (£308,000).

Handling pressure

University of the Western Cape are among this year’s debutants and coach Thinasonke Mbuli says it is "a dream" to feature at the finals.

The South African side will face AS FAR, DR Congo's TP Mazembe and Aigles de la Medina of Senegal in Group A.

"It's something that we have been longing for for years," Mbuli told BBC Sport Africa.

"I joined in 2019 and, as a club, you want to see yourself playing at the high-end competition.

"I believe we have a good enough team to really push and hopefully get us out of the group stages."

Mbuli, who is also an assistant coach to South Africa women’s boss Desiree Ellis, will fulfil a personal target in Morocco.

"I've coached at the Women's World Cup, I've coached at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon), but as a coach I've never been to the Champions League," she said.

"Maybe my experience will help in terms of preparing the players mentally. We just have to think how to respond to the pressure that comes with it."

In Group B, Sundowns will face three debutants in FC Masar of Egypt, Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) and Nigerian outfit Edo Queens.

"Nigeria is the most successful nation in African women's football," Edo Queens boss Gabriel Aduku said, referencing the 11 continental titles won by the Super Falcons.

"But that dominance has not reflected yet in the women's club football. We are coming to Morocco with the mindset that Nigeria is the best in Africa."

Meanwhile, CBE forward Senaf Wakuma is optimistic about their hopes.

"Winning the Cecafa (regional) title has already given us a boost and we're ready for the challenge ahead," she told BBC Amharic.

"We're aware that some teams like to play direct football, which is why we're taking extra time to study their approach.

"While our ultimate ambition is to bring the trophy home and make our country proud, our primary goal is to reach the final four."

Discovering talent

Ellis will be keeping a close eye on the action in Casablanca and El Jadida, with 11 members of the Banyana Banyana squad which faced Denmark and England in friendlies last month involved in the tournament.

"It's a different set-up to national team football, but it's still an environment where you are challenged," she said.

"The experience that players gain in these competitions is second to none."

Ellis also says the finals will provide a "shop window" for the best players based on the continent to be scouted by top sides around the world.

Ghana forward Evelyn Badu sealed a move to Norway after finishing top scorer in 2021, while 2022 golden boot winner Ibtissam Jraidi now plies her trade in Saudi Arabia and Tanzania’s Opah Clement is in Turkey.

"The talent is there and you see the development of players coming through," Ellis said.

"I don't think the talent being regularly taken to Europe is devaluing the competition. Because I think if you look over the last three years, the competition has gotten better and better."

In the long term, Caf will also aim to assist the two African qualifiers for the inaugural 16-team Fifa Women’s Club World Cup, which will be played in early 2026.

"We want to make sure we have strong representation," Gomishe said.

"Once we determine who is going to be going to the Club World Cup we will make sure those two clubs are supported and have friendlies available for them."

Caf Women's Champions League 2024 draw

Group A: AS FAR (Morocco, hosts), Aigles de la Medina (Senegal), TP Mazembe (DR Congo), University of the Western Cape (South Africa).

Group B: Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa, holders) FC Masar (Egypt), Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (Ethiopia), Edo Queens (Nigeria).

Group stage: 9-16 November, semi-finals: 19 November, third place play-off: 22 November, final: 23 November.