Perfect start to Varsity Football Women 2026 for UJ as they go two-from-two

The 2026 Varsity Football Women's tournament kicked off on Saturday at the University of Pretoria and the opening day produced closely contested encounters as WSU and Wits played to a 1-1 draw, while newcomers UL marked their return with a goalless draw against CPUT. The UJ Orange Army were the only side to claim maximum points after edging TUT 1-0 in a repeat of last year’s semi-final, while hosts UP-Tuks were held to a 0-0 draw by defending champions UWC in the day's marquee clash.

Wits and WSU played out an entertaining draw to kick off the 2026 FNB Varsity Football Women's tournament. With both teams eager to make an early statement in the competition, the opening fixture lived up to expectations as they produced an exciting and competitive contest.

Neither side was willing to give an inch, showcasing attacking intent and defensive resilience throughout the match before ultimately settling for a share of the spoils in a fitting curtain-raiser to the new season. With much expected from the sides to prove their competitiveness, the fixture did not disappoint.

Wits enjoyed possession in the opening minutes but it was difficult for the Johannesburg outfit to deal with WSU counterattacks. Buyisile Khunou's side opened the score sheet with a brilliant finish from Okuhle Mrulwa. Sloppy at the back, Wits failed to clear their lines which saw Mrulwa slotting it in the corner.

Wits kept asking questions with the East London side staying organised at the back, which did not last long as Wits finally equalised courtesy of Thina Nogcantsi's strike.

Wits were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box, WSU shot stopper Likona Ngewu failed to gather Aliyaah Allie's shot, the ball fell on the sharp boot of Thina Nogcantsi who slotted it in the bottom corner.

Wits came close to taking the lead with Mmathapelo Tau's shot cancelled for an offside.

The second half delivered no goals however both teams threw everything they had at each other. Wits came back guns blazing and kept asking questions while WSU remained calm at the back.

WSU came close reclaiming the lead through Nintu Jele, who saw her shot going over the crossbar one-one with the keeper. Wits piled pressure on WSU with signs of cracking their defence however Nogcantsi could not convert two clear-cut chances.

UL and CPUT shared the spoils in a goalless draw after a disciplined defensive display from both sides in a closely contested Varsity Football Women encounter.

The Limpopo side showed early signs of delivering something special with quick attacks and give-and-go's while the Cape side started slowing with limited attacks and remaining compact at the back.

UL came close to scoring after 20 minutes of play Mmamonyana Selloe's shot went over the bar, before Tshepang Manganye saw her header going straight into the keeper's hands.

CPUT broke a couple of times in a counter however they did not pose much threat on the Turfloop side. Zilungile Mathiya's long deliveries looked promising with Zozibini Jim and Yandiswa Ndlangamandla firing wide.

The clash saw a slow start in the second half with both teams not asking questions. UL was the first to take the game to CPUT.

UL made promising attacks inside the CPUT half, exploiting the wide areas thanks to Welcome Maphanga's pleasing deliveries, however the Limpopo outfit could not capitalize on crosses fed in the box.

It was a battle of midfielders with Zilungile Mathiya orchestrating the middle of the park for CPUT, although they spent much of the second stanza in their own half. The Cape side broke on a couple occasions with no results as well.

With a glance of attack, Zozibini Jim was delivered a spectacular through ball on the edge of the box however UL shot stopper was equal to the task as she blocked Jim's touch to make a crucial save for UL.

UL kept asking questions however Mmamonyana Selloe could not convert the chances as the encounter finished goalless.

Sbongakonke Mzobe's clinical penalty proved decisive as UJ edged record champions TUT 1-0 in their opening match of the 2026 FNB Varsity Football Women's tournament. In a closely contested encounter, Mzobe's spot-kick separated the two sides and earned UJ a winning start to their campaign.

TUT tormented UJ in early stages with relentless attacks aiming to get an early lead. Nthabeleng Modiko led UJ remained composed in defence as they absorbed the pressure for most the half.

TUT's front trio of Mokgaetji Ramanna, Sibongile Ntoane and Nombuso Malesa posed threats at UJ defence, piercing the lines a couple of times, however nothing materialized for the Red Army.

UJ had their fair chances of stealing the lead, as they started finding their feed late in the half. Malitsatsi Mosala could not convert the aerial deliveries in the box as it was still goalless at the break.

TUT continued their hunt for the opener while UJ remained composed at the back. The Pretoria West outfit came agonizing close to score twice in successive occasions.

Nombuso Malesa's header went wide after a lethal delivery before Sibongile Ntoane unleashed a cracker only for her to be denied by the crossbar.

Things turned upside quickly for TUT after they committed numbers upfront, UJ broke on the counter and shot stopper Mbali Ndlovu committed a foul inside the box.

Sbongakonke Mzobe stepped and sent the keeper the wrong way to hand UJ a much-needed lead. TUT could not respond as UJ kept calm and sealed a slender 1-0 victory.

Hosts UP-Tuks Women held defending champions UWC to a hard-fought goalless draw in a tightly contested opening-round clash of the 2026 FNB Varsity Football tournament.

Despite UWC entering the match as favourites in search of a fourth consecutive title, Tuks produced a disciplined performance to earn a valuable point.

The opening exchanges saw UWC pressing the Stripe Generation to go ahead early. Vulindlela Biko's troops controlled the tempo in the opening half, coming close to finding the back of the net a couple of occasions.

Tuks did not give UWC too much respect, as they hauled their attacks, firing two close attempts.

In an end-to-end stanza UWC were almost awarded a goal. Chelsea Daniels unleashed a cracker in the box which went through Akani Maluleke but to the rescue was Zikhona Mgotywa who cleared it off the line.

The Western Cape outfit kept asking for more but met an unshaken Tuks defence. Goalless at the break.

The second half saw a balanced tempo with sides starting slow. UWC broke Tuks defence line but the Pretoria side was up to the task.

Tuks suffered two injury blows in attack and defence losing Zikhona Mgotywa in the first half and Aphelele Mhlongo early in the second half. UWC looked a better side to take the lead however Tuks remained solid at the back.

Tuks looked threatening on the wide areas, as they saw their efforts blocked twice from corner kicks.

Round Two of the tournament burst into life at the University of Pretoria on Sunday, producing 20 goals after just three were scored on the opening day. TUT delivered the biggest result with an emphatic 11-1 victory over CPUT, while UJ made it two wins from two after beating hosts UP-Tuks 3-0. Wits secured a 2-1 win over newcomers UL, while defending champions UWC were held to a 1-1 draw by WSU and remain without a victory.

TUT took on CPUT looking to redeem themselves following a blunder opening game. The encounter was expected to be one-sided as the six-time champions were gunning for their seventh star.

CPUT did the unthinkable, grabbing an early lead from the spot after TUT committed a foul in their box. Sinelisiwe Phumlomo sent the keeper the wrong way inside the first five minutes.

Their lead though did not last for long as TUT tied matters immediately. Sibongile Ntoane controlling the attack and she finds Gugu Mabitsela who makes no mistake and guides it home. Andiswa Jele put her side in front for the first time. Brilliant cross delivered and Jele headed in a free header.

The Red Army doubled their lead after that through Ntoane for her first of the campaign as she did that from the spot, with the playmaker slotting it home.

The affair proved to be one-sided for the majority of the first half as Prof Ntwanano Kubayi's side bagged their fourth on the stroke of halftime to take a comfortable three goal cushion at the interval.

The Red Army picked up where they left off, netting seven more goals in the second half.

Substitute Tshepang Mosehla opened the second half scoring, slotting it in the corner. Ntoane registered her brace minutes later, opening the goal flood gates.

It was Ntoane's show bagging assists and a hat-trick. TUT broke CPUT defence lines with ease, as they went on to net their seventh and Malesa's second. Before completing her hattrick beating the keeper one on one. Mabitsela and Mosehla registered their brace before Ntoane ended things with a hat-trick.

Tuks locked horns with UJ in a Gauteng derby as the Johannesburg side came into the encounter high in confidence after their slender win over TUT on Friday. UP-Tuks was aiming for a first win after holding defending champions to a goalless draw.

It was an end-to-end action as expected with Gauteng bragging rights at stake. Tuks came close to getting an opener when S'bahle Ndlovu released Dakarai Zhoya who saw her shot blocked by the keeper in one on one.

UJ struck twice in five minutes through Kusaselihle Shibase and Ayanda Mnyembane. Shibase finished off a pinpoint long pass from Kabelo Mokoena before Mnyembane capitalised on a defensive error to double the lead.

Tuks posed threatening attacks in search of a goal however their efforts could not materialise as UJ took a two-goal cushion at the half-time break.

The second stanza produced a more technically disciplined display with UJ guarding their lines and absorbing the pressure. Tuks committed more numbers upfront in a desperate search for a goal.

UJ sealed the victory with a clinical counterattack as Mnyembane set up Kusaselihle Shibase for her second goal of the match. Despite UP-Tuks' efforts to respond, UJ's disciplined defence held firm to secure all three points.

Wits faced UL as both sides searched for their first win of the campaign. The Johannesburg outfit started as favourites and threatened early on, while UL responded with their first meaningful attack in the 14th minute in an evenly contested encounter.

UL's rapid counter unsettled Wits defence as they committed a foul on the edge resulting in a goal. Pitsi Ramasenya connected perfectly with delivery, handing her side a lead from a header.

Wits nearly found an equaliser when the on-form Thina Nogcantsi pierced through UL defence and beat the keeper but failed to control the ball as it headed wide. UL survived Wits' desperate attack and a slender lead at the interval.

Wits returned from the break rejuvenated and piled pressure on UL. Desperate to defend their sole lead, UL suffered a blow as they were reduced to 10 players when Mmamonyana Selloe was sent off.

The Johannesburg side enjoyed immediate rewards as they tied the deficit. Pulling the strings in the middle of the park was Nwabisa Qoba. Wits pierced through UL defence finding Qoba who perfectly fed Imaan Parker who easily tapped in the equalizer.

UL keeper Mangoako Keetsi was kept busy saving two one-on-one incidents to deny Wits a lead. That did not last long as Qoba finally registered her name on the score sheet. Inside the box the former UWC player with impeccable control and slots it at the bottom corner to seal Wits' 2-1 triumph.

Defending champions UWC collided with WSU with both sides looking to register first wins. The Western Cape outfit headed into the clash with a couple of changes from their opening encounter against Tuks, missing goal poacher Chelsea Daniels due to injury.

Vulindlela Biko's troops came close to breaking the deadlock after relentless attempts as Sinamile Mkhwanazi's long range shot hit the crossbar.

UWC kept asking questions and captain Tiffany Kortjie stepped up to the task and netted a goal that was later denied for an offside.

WSU held it tied at the back, heading into the break deadlocked at 0-0.

The second half produced all the goals with WSU breaking the deadlock. With their sole promising attack WSU were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box as Lilita Mweli opened her account with a looping shot in the far corner.

Chasing an equaliser, UWC pushed captain Kortjie further forward but WSU goalkeeper produced a series of crucial saves to preserve her side's advantage.

The defending champions did not back down and were finally awarded for their efforts. Kortjie connected well with a through ball and perfectly placed it in the far post to level things.