Gaborone United Ladies have become the first football team from Botswana to win a regional trophy and will make history by competing in the CAF Champions League this year. The club secured the Cosafa Women's Champions League Cup in August, defeating Zambia's Zesco Ndola Girls 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
Coach William Monene described the achievement as monumental for the country. 'It's a great achievement for the whole country. It is our first major cup. No other team, whether it's age group or senior, at club or national level, has managed to bring a cup home,' he said.
United's rise has been swift. Promoted to the first division in 2023, they finished second that year, won the title in 2024, and improved further in 2025. This season, they won all 14 league matches, scoring 61 goals and conceding only three. Their attacking form continued in the CAF qualifiers, where they netted 11 times in three group-stage matches.
Striker Gaonyadiwe Ontlametse has been key, scoring seven goals in four matches during the qualifiers. Monene praised her technical abilities, speed, and finishing, but noted she needs to improve her off-the-ball play against tougher Champions League opposition. Ontlametse acknowledged the need to adapt, saying, 'I enjoy attacking football but I also understand that at the highest level you must adapt.'
United remain unbeaten in over a year, with their last loss coming in a penalty shootout in the 2024 qualifiers. Monene, who previously lost two consecutive Cosafa finals, said, 'It was bound to happen that I would win one.' The team now looks ahead to the Champions League, where they will face defending champions TP Mazembe and other top African clubs.
