26 Aug 2026

Defending champions, Gaborone United Ladies face their toughest test yet in the CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA Qualifiers after booking a semi final clash with South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns to be played today at Gaborone United (GU) Stadium, with a place in Saturday’s final at stake.

The GU Ladies, alias Red Roses, advanced to the last four as Group A runners up despite ending the group stage with a 2-0 defeat to Zambia’s ZESCO Ndola Girls on Monday.

The hosts had made a strong start to their title defence, beating Lesotho Defence Force and Zimbabwean champions, Herentals Queens before ZESCO brought their winning run to an end.

ZESCO finished top of the group after an impressive campaign that also included a 5-2 victory over Herentals and a 1-0 win against Lesotho Defence Force.

Sundowns have been equally dominant in Group B, opening their campaign with an emphatic 8-0 win over eSwatini’s Nsingizini Hotspurs before defeating Malawi’s Silver Strikers 3-0.

The results set up a demanding semi-final for GU, who would need to rediscover the form that carried them through their opening matches if they are to keep their title defence on track.

For the defending champions, the defeat to ZESCO provides a timely warning as the competition moves into the knockout stage, where there is no room for a slip up.

GU now has one game standing between them and another final and a chance to move a step closer to retaining their regional crown. ENDS