Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies are in the final of the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League for the first time since 2023 after thumping Kawempe Muslim Ladies 4-1 in the second semi-final at Suez Canal Stadium on Wednesday.
Ronnel Donnelly shined with her first Champions League hat-trick, also this tournament’s first, while Noxolo Cesane chipped the other for the COSAFA Champions to set-up a final meeting with defending champions ASFAR on Sunday.
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Godfrey Sapula made one change from the side that defeated FUS Rabat 3-0 in the last group game, with Lelona Daweti starting ahead of Boitumelo Rabale. Sundowns started franticly trying to get a goal very early on but weren’t clinical in the opening minutes of the game.
Refilwe Tholakele had a shot blocked inside the box in the 18th minute. There was a nervy moment for the South African side in the 26th minute after Andile Dlamini’s poor clearance came back to see her spill the ball, but Karabo Dhlamini cleared it from the goal-line.
Three minutes from that Donnelly broke the deadlock from an Asanda Hadebe pass. Nonhalnhla Mthandi and Daweti missed chances to double the lead just after the half hour mark. In the 34th minute Daweti set up Donnelly for her second goal of the game and the latter completed her hat-trick three minutes from that. A minute to the break Cesane smashed the fourth goal with her left foot.
There were no immediate changes from both sides at the start of the second stanza. It took 10 minutes for a real chance at goal in the half with Daweti kicking right into the goalkeeper’s hands. A minute later ‘Sticks’ was called to make a save, a long range effort from Agnes Nabukenya.
The Ugandan side’s captain Shakira Nyinagahirwa also had a shot at Dlamini in the 61st minute but it wasn’t troubling for the Banyana Banyana international. The East African’s persistence was rewarded in the 72nd minute when Latifah Nakasi headed home the consolation.
Sundowns could have scored a fifth one through Tholakele in injury time but the Botswana international was denied by the cross bar. Kawempe had the ball in the Sundowns net again in injury-time but it was ruled out after VAR review due to a foul in the build-up, which saw Anitah Namata receive a red card.
Sundowns will face former champions AS FAR in Sunday’s final.