CAF Women’s Champions League 2026: Africa’s Best Clubs Battle for Continental Glory

African women’s club football takes centre stage in Ismailia, Egypt, as the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League brings eight teams together for two weeks of continental competition.

The tournament which is the sixth edition kicked off on Sunday, November 1, and will run until November 15 at the Suez Canal Stadium. The tournament’s final is scheduled for November 15, with the semi-finals on November 11 and the third-place match on November 14.

Egypt, which is the host, is hosting the competition for the third time, having staged its inaugural edition in 2021 and the 2025 tournament.

The participating clubs represent seven African countries. In group A is the Host FC Masar leading the group alongside South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, Morocco’s FUS Rabat and Cameroon’s Lekié Football Filles.

Group B features defending champions AS FAR of Morocco, Uganda’s Kawempe Muslim Ladies, Mali’s USFAS Bamako and Ghana’s Ampem Darkoa.

The opening day featured FUS Rabat against Lekié Football Filles, followed by FC Masar’s meeting with Mamelodi Sundowns. The group stage continues through November 8, with the top two teams in each group progressing to the
There is more at stake than the trophy. The champions will receive US$600,000, while the total prize-money allocation is US$2.35 million. The winning club will also earn a place in the second qualifying round of the 2027 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup, giving Africa’s representative an opportunity to compete on a wider international stage.

The tournament matters because it gives leading women’s clubs a regular continental platform to test themselves against different playing styles, attract supporters and sponsors, and showcase the talent and ambition of African players. Its growing reach can help strengthen club structures and raise the visibility of women’s football beyond national leagues.

With established contenders such as AS FAR and Mamelodi Sundowns facing ambitious challengers and debutants, the competition offers a picture of a women’s game that is expanding across the continent.

For players and clubs alike, Ismailia is not simply a destination for a title: it is a stage on which African women’s football can build its profile and future. For younger players watching across Africa, the tournament provides visible role models and a tangible pathway from domestic competition to the highest level of club football.