CAF’s Head of Women’s Football Meskerem Goshime has announced plans to expand the current eight-team CAF Women’s Champions League to 12 or even 16 teams.However, she emphasized that several key issues must be addressed first, including increased club participation in qualifiers to boost competition.Goshime highlighted Africa’s ambition to send strong representatives to the inaugural FIFA Women’s Club World Cup in 2026.##NAJAVA_MECA_8486600##“For the expansion, we want to see more clubs involved – currently, we have grown from around 33 clubs at the start to 36, but we need more member associations engaging in qualifiers before moving forward,” she said.“Yes, expansion is part of our future plans, especially with the Club World Cup on the horizon. We want robust representation. Once we identify the African champion or the World Cup-bound team, we’ll ensure they receive support and opportunities for friendlies to strengthen their representation of Africa.”Why Harambee Stars lost to South Sudan in CHAN qualifiersGoshime added that CAF is focusing on enhancing the Women’s Champions League as a competitive brand, even with eight teams, so that the finalists are exceptionally strong.“Before expanding, we’re encouraging more engagement from our member associations and concentrating on domestic leagues to ensure high standards of administration.”##NAJAVA_MECA_8486581##During the last Women’s Champions League qualifiers, CAF collaborated with zonal unions to help clubs understand the expectations of professional football.This announcement came just a day after CAF revealed a 52% increase in prize money for the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League, set to kick off in Morocco on Saturday 9 November.Each of the eight participating teams is now guaranteed a minimum of $150,000 (close to Ksh19.5m), depending on their final standing.Bandari goalkeeper thrilled to keep clean sheet in first game since waking from comaIn a statement, CAF affirmed its commitment to developing women’s football in Africa, citing President Patrice Motsepe’s goal to invest in youth academies and increase prize money across CAF competitions to enhance their global competitiveness and appeal.The Prize Money for the CAF Women’s Champions League Morocco 2024 is:Winner: USD 600 000Runner up: USD 400 0003rd Place: USD 350 0004th Place: USD 300 0003rd of the Group: USD 200 000 each4th of the Group: USD 150 000 each
