Green Buffaloes Booted Out of 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League Qualifiers
Green Buffaloes, the Zambian football giants, have suffered a shocking exit from the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League – COSAFA Qualifiers after failing to advance beyond the group stage. This disappointing outcome marks the worst-ever performance by the team in the regional tournament, a stark contrast to their previous successes.
The Buffaloes’ hopes were dashed following a narrow 2-1 defeat at the hands of Namibian champions Ongos. This result left the Zambian side with a slim chance of progressing to the semi-finals, which depended on the outcome of the match between South Africa’s University of the Western Cape and Herentals Queens of Zimbabwe.
Unfortunately for Buffaloes, the University of the Western Cape secured a 2-1 victory over Herentals Queens. Both teams finished the group stage with 6 points each, while the Buffaloes, led by coach Carol Kanyemba, were left stranded on just 3 points, sealing their fate and ending their campaign prematurely.
This early exit is particularly disheartening for Green Buffaloes, who have consistently been strong contenders in the COSAFA Cup. In 2021 and 2023, they reached the semi-finals, and in 2022, under the guidance of Charles Halubono, they claimed the championship title. This year’s group stage elimination is a significant setback for a team with such a proud history in the competition.
Green Buffaloes’ early departure from the tournament underscores the unpredictability and fierce competition in the COSAFA region. While this year’s outcome was not in their favor, the Zambian champions will undoubtedly reflect on this experience and regroup as they aim to return stronger in future campaigns.
