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‘WESLIANS’ TO KICK OFF CAF TOURNEY IN OCTOBER

17/03/2021 13:57:00 Chris Dlamini

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MBABANE – The inaugural TOTAL CAF Women’s Champions League 2021 competition will be held later this year.

CAF is an acronym for Confederation of African Football. While CAF has opened bids for the hosting of the main tournament to be competed for by eight teams, including the host country’s league champions, Eswatini also has a chance to be represented in the last eight. The country’s Women Football League champions last season, Manzini Wanderers, have already been officially informed by the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) about their expected participation in the tournament.

However, it will all start with zonal qualifiers throughout the continent, with only seven countries qualifying to join the yet-to-be known host country in the main tournament. This means Wanderers must go through the southern zone qualifiers which could be against giants South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Mauritius among others. CAFonline.com reported recently that they were looking for bids from interested countries to host the main event. “The Total CAF Women’s Champions League 2021 competition will be organised during the period of October, November or December each year as per resolution of the CAF Executive Committee,” read a statement in the CAF website.

Qualifiers

However, Wanderers are expected to start qualifiers next month or in May at the latest. CAF is yet to give a directive to member associations as there should also be a draw for the qualifiers. “National Associations are requested to present their bidding files containing the stadiums (two stadiums are required) and training facilities (four training sites at least), accommodation plans (that can host the eight teams), in addition to the official government guarantee,” the CAF statement added. The closing date to submit bids is March 31, 2021. Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Marketing and Communications Officer Muzi Radebe could not give an immediate response.

Eswatini currently has its two main stadiums banned by CAF, with Mavuso Sports Centre getting a special licence to host Guinea-Bissau next Friday in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Cup 2021 Qualifiers. Due to COVID-19, CAF postponed the main tournament to January 2022. The country’s soccer Mecca, Somhlolo National Stadium, has been under refurbishment since the last official football match, the Ingwenyama Cup final on March 8, last year.