Champions League next stop for Ascent Soccer academy girls!

On Sunday, the Ascent Soccer academy girls made history!

With a 1-0 victory over the MDF Lionesses, Ascent Soccer claimed the 2024 Senior Women’s National Championship, becoming the first youth side to accomplish the feat and by our records, the first youth academy team globally (men or women) -- to earn a place in Champions League qualifying.

With an average age of just 18, Ascent showed tremendous poise during finals week, cruising through their three knock-out matches without conceding a goal.

Ascent opened their tournament run with a 4-0 quarterfinal win over the defending champion Kukoma Ntopwa, before slipping past Silver Strikers 2-0 in the semifinals.

The victory in Sunday's final secured Ascent's spot in the CAF Champions League COSAFA qualifiers in South Africa later this year.

Ascent winger Marium Mnenula was named Player of the Tournament, with her efforts including a sublime chip from 30 yards out for Sunday's match winning goal. Also honoured was Ascent's Thom Mkolongo, who earn the Coach of the Tournament award.

CLICK HERE to watch a replay of Sunday's Championship Final.

(Note: Zip to 57:20 if you want to see Marium's title winning strike!)

This incredible team effort has also come on the heels of some major individual success for the soaring Ascent Soccer girls.

Earlier this month, 17-year-old Ascent midfielder Leticia Chinyamula was honoured as the COSAFA region's Most Promising Women's Player, and in February Victoria Mwkala (15) was named Malawi's Junior Female Sports Woman of the Year.