Silver Strikers Ladies Coach Andrew Chikhosi believes his charges can go past the group stage of this year’s Caf Women’s Champions League/Cosafa qualifiers.
Chikhosi was reacting to the Caf Women’s Champions League/ Cosafa qualifiers draw conducted in Gaborone, Botswana, yesterday.
The tournament is scheduled for Gaborone from August 20 to 29.
The Bankers Ladies were drawn in Group B alongside two-time African champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies (South Africa) Nsingizini Hotspurs (eSwatini) and Costa do Sol from Mozambique.
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Chikhosi described the draw as tough but said they were ready to compete.
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“We expected such a tough draw as all the teams are champions for their respective countries. It is a competition of champions,” Chikhosi said.
Chikhosi said they have assembled a good team that could compete against Sundowns and Costa.
“In football, anything can happen, as you have seen what the Scorchers have done. People did not give them, as debutants, a chance to go far. We will go there to compete [and] not to [simply] participate,” he said.
Group A comprises defending champions Gaborone United, Lesotho Defence Force Ladies, Zesco Ndola Girls and Herentals Queens.
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The top-two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals, with the champions qualifying for Caf Women’s Champions League finals—to be staged later this year.
Sports analyst Parry Chinyama said Silver Ladies could pull a surprise if they prepared well.
“They will go there as underdogs but can beat any team,” he said.
Silver will make their maiden appearance at the Cosafa qualifiers after winning the inaugural National Bank of Malawi (NBM) Women’s Premiership last season.
Kukoma Ntopwa were the first Malawian women’s club to participate in the competition in 2023.
Ascent Soccer Academy participated in the 2024 edition, when it was held at Mpira Stadium in Blantyre City.
Last year, Ntopwa also participated in the competition in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Both Ntopwa and Ascent failed to go past the group stages.
