No plans to expand African Women's Champions League

Africa's Women's Champions League will not expand from its eight-team finals format for the foreseeable future, according to a top football official on the continent.

The fourth edition of the tournament will kick off in Morocco on Saturday, with Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa set to defend their title.

Financial limitations are the main reason why the Confederation of African Football (Caf) will not increase the number of teams competing or switch to copy the structure of the 16-team men's equivalent, which uses home and away games across six group-stage matches before two-legged knockout ties from the quarter-finals onwards.

"We cannot afford home and away matches," said Meske Goshime, the head of the women’s game at Caf.

"Our clubs are not financially strong [enough] to travel three or four times and play home and away. Travelling in Africa is not really easy - you have to catch flights, travel sometimes for 24 hours.

"Zonal qualifiers will continue for some time.

"We want more member associations engaging in the qualifiers before we can push it forward and say that we need a 12-team or a 16-team final."

Goshime added that Caf's priority is to use the competition to improve the quality of domestic leagues around the continent, which is then anticipated to have a knock-on effect and boost the standard of national sides.

There is once again a much-changed line-up for this year's Women's Champions League, with five sides appearing for the first time.

A total of 23 different clubs have featured since the inaugural tournament in 2021, with two-time champions Sundowns and Morocco’s AS FAR, the winners in 2022, both ever-presents.

"We are focussing on making sure that we develop this strong brand of the Women’s Champions League and making it competitive," Goshime added.

"We are also making sure the game is professionalised and that domestic leagues are strong. Once it has been done we can expand the number of teams competing in the final stage."

Caf says it has increased the prize money on offer by 52% this year, with every side guaranteed at least $150,000 (£116,000).

The winners of the final on 23 November are set to pick up a cheque for $600,000 (£463,00) while the runners-up will receive $400,000 (£308,000).

(BBC)