Silver Strikers Ladies have expressed optimism that they will qualify for the final of the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League’s Cosafa Qualifiers when they face Zesco Ndola Girls of Zambia in this afternoon’s semi-final at Gaborone United Stadium in Botswana.
The Bankers have already made history by becoming the first Malawian team to make the semi-final grade in the qualifiers of women’s football, but coach Patricio Kulemeka said in an interview yesteeday that they believe they can go further.
Kulemeka is in charge of the team specifically for the tournament because the head coach Andrew Chikhosi does not have the required Confederation oif African Football (CAF) A license
Silver Ladies’ squad includes five players that were part of the Malawi National Women’s Football Team’s historic journey at the TotalEnergies CAF 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) finals in Morocco, namely Ireen Khumalo, Chikondi Gondwe, Tionge Phiri, Madyina Ngulube and Debroah Henry.
Ndola Girls qualified for the semis after topping Group A with three straight wins and were finalists in the last edition.
But Kulemeka, whose side sailed through as Group B runners-up with two wins and one loss, said they are unshaken.
“We are going into the semi-final with a courageous heart. We are not moved by the statistical advantage of our opponents as our eyes are set on fighting for a slot in the final and, probably, a spot in the CAF Women’s Champions League final tournament,” he said.
Ndola Girls coach Florence Mwila, whose side boasts Zambia National Women’s Football Team attacker Eneles Phiri, was quoted by bolanews.co as having said that they are prepared to face any opponent in the semi-final as they have no preference over who they face.
“There’s no preference for any team. We play any team that comes. We are prepared,” she is quoted as having said.
“This is a tournament. You meet any opponent, so you just have to be prepared for the next opponent that you will face. We can’t say we want to play against a specific team.”
The other semi-final will see Group B winners Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies of South Africa battling it out against the hosts and Group A runners-up Gaborone United Ladies this evening.
Only the winner of the regional Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) qualifying tournament will earn a single place allocated to the Southern African zone at the CAF Champions League.
The final CAF Women’s Champions League will feature eight teams, the defending champions AS FAR of Morocco, the host nation’s representative,and the six winners from each of CAF’s zonal qualifiers.
