The 2023 Caf Women’s Champions League/ Cosafa Qualifiers get underway this afternoon as Malawi’s representative Ntopwa will make their maiden appearance against Lesotho Defence Force in the opening match at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.
Surely, all eyes will be on Ntopwa in this year’s competition as they are the only side making their debut.
Against all odds, Ntopwa are set to write their own piece of history as the first Malawian team to participate in the competition.
They qualified for the tournament after winning the National Women’s Championship in May this year.
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This is the biggest test for the Malawi women’s football champions. At this stage, Ntopwa must be brave and show great character to get a positive result against Lesotho Defence Force.
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Coach James Sangala said the girls are ready for the big stage
“People do not have any idea of what we have and what can do, which is an advantage to us. We have the underdog tag, which is another advantage as people are not focused on us,” Sangala said.
Ntopwa arrived in Durban on Saturday ahead of the match. They beefed up squad with experienced players namely Linda Kasenda and Vanessa Chikupira.
Captain Saliva January said morale is high in camp ahead of the match. “We are here to cause an upset. Let teams underrate us at their own peril,” she said.
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Ntopwa will face holders Green Buffaloes in the second match of the tournament on Friday at the same venue before wrapping up the group stage against Double Action Ladies from Botswana at Prince Magogo Stadium.
In another match on the opening day, Buffaloes will meet Double Action later in the afternoon.
Owner Isaac Jomo Osman, who has travelled with the team, said his troops are in Durban to compete.
Action in Group B will start tomorrow as Costa do Sol from Mozambique will meet Young Buffaloes from eSwatini whereas Mamelodi Sundowns and Olympic de Moroni will also face off.
Two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals of the competition. The winner of the competition will qualify for the Afcon finals to be staged in Ivory Coast in November this year
