Sundowns Ladies ready to give all in 2026 CAF Champions League qualifiers

Sundowns Ladies have started their bid for a place in the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League after arriving in Botswana on Tuesday. The South African club missed the previous edition and now intends to make the qualification campaign count.

The team, known as Banyana Ba’Style, has been training in Botswana ahead of the qualifiers. Their preparations have included bringing together players who returned after representing South Africa at the recently completed Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

Coach Sapula says the squad has had to merge two groups into one unit, but believes the work done so far has gone well. The process has focused on building a collective team before Sundowns begin their campaign.

Sundowns are also approaching the qualifiers with respect for the changing level of women’s football in Africa. Sapula says past success and reputation will not be enough, with every opponent requiring effort and serious preparation.

That warning is especially relevant because Sundowns have been drawn alongside a club from Malawi in the qualifying field. Malawi’s recent showing at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations was cited as evidence of the competitiveness now present across the continent, and Sundowns do not intend to underestimate any opponent.

Captain Lebogang Ramalepe has taken responsibility for keeping the squad motivated and ensuring that the players are mentally ready for the demands of the championship. Sundowns’ immediate objective is to combine that mental preparation with their work on the training ground and secure their return to the continental competition.