Liberia’s reigning Upper Women’s League champions, Determine Girls FC, have been eliminated from the 2026 WAFU Zone A Women’s Champions League qualifying tournament after suffering defeats in their opening two group-stage matches.
The Liberian champions began their campaign with a difficult 4-1 defeat to Malian powerhouse USFAS Bamako before suffering a narrow 1-0 loss to Senegalese side Aigles de la Medina in their second outing.
The two consecutive defeats left Determine Girls without a point from their first two matches and brought their hopes of advancing to the next stage to an early end.
For a club that has become a familiar presence in West African women’s football, the result represents a disappointing outcome, but it also comes against the backdrop of a remarkable regional history.
Since the introduction of the WAFU Zone A Women’s Champions League qualifying competition, Determine Girls have consistently represented Liberia on one of the region’s biggest stages.
The club made its debut in the competition in 2021 in Cape Verde, finishing third in the group after recording one victory and two defeats.
Their breakthrough came the following year when Determine Girls produced one of the most significant achievements in the history of Liberian women’s club football.
Playing on home soil in Monrovia, the Liberian champions won the 2022 WAFU Zone A title, becoming the first club from Liberia to qualify for the CAF Women’s Champions League finals.
That historic achievement elevated Determine Girls' profile beyond Liberia and established the club as a serious force in the emerging West African women’s club football landscape.
From Champions to Contenders
Determine Girls were unable to retain their regional crown in 2023, exiting at the group stage despite having home advantage as hosts.
The club responded with another strong showing in 2024 in Sierra Leone, where they demonstrated their ability to compete against some of the region’s established women's teams.
One of the highlights of that campaign was a notable victory over defending champions AS Mandé.
Determine Girls advanced deep into the competition and remained in contention for the championship before ultimately finishing as runners-up following a narrow defeat to Senegal’s Aigles de la Medina on the final day.
That result reinforced the club’s status as one of Liberia’s most successful representatives in regional women’s football.
The 2025 and 2026 editions, however, have proved considerably more challenging for the Liberian side.
Determine Girls have faced increasingly strong opposition from clubs with established regional pedigrees, including USFAS Bamako and Aigles de la Medina.
Their latest campaign also comes during a period of transition, with the club seeking to rebuild and develop a squad capable of competing consistently at the highest level of West African women’s football.
The 4-1 defeat to USFAS Bamako exposed the difficulty of competing against a highly experienced Malian side, while the 1-0 defeat to Aigles de la Medina demonstrated how fine the margins can be between established regional contenders.
Although the 2026 campaign ended earlier than Determine Girls would have hoped, the experience provides another opportunity for the club and its players to measure themselves against some of the leading teams in the region.
Regular participation in WAFU Zone A competition has also contributed to the growing visibility of Liberian women’s football, providing players with exposure to a higher level of competition and offering valuable lessons for future continental campaigns.
For Determine Girls, the immediate focus will now shift back to domestic football, where the club will seek to maintain its position among Liberia’s leading women’s teams while preparing for future regional assignments.
Determine Girls’ elimination is undoubtedly a setback, but their broader record in the WAFU Zone A competition remains significant.
A regional championship in 2022, a runners-up finish in 2024, and repeated appearances among West Africa’s leading women’s clubs underline the club’s contribution to the development of women’s football in Liberia.
The challenge now is to translate the lessons of difficult regional campaigns into sustained domestic success and a stronger return to international competition.
For Liberia’s reigning champions, the 2026 journey may have ended prematurely, but the club’s regional story is far from over.