Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies secured their qualification to the CAF Women’s Champions League tournament in Egypt, after winning the CAFWCL Cosafa qualification tournament held in Durban, beating Black Rhinos 3-0 in the final.
After flying through the groups, where they scored 18 goals and conceded one in three game, they found it a little tougher in the semi-finals with a 1-0 win over Zambia Green Buffaloes, though they still dominated the game, and the scoreline could’ve been much higher.
And in the final against Black Rhinos, Sundowns were the dominant team from start to finish but found a stubborn defence from the Zimbabwean team.
However Sundowns were in the lead in the 12th minute, after a swift attack following a defensive slip, Lerato Kgasago finishing off the move neatly after a good square ball from Andisiwe Mgcoyi, with her first time shot beating Rhino’s goalkeeper Precious Mudyiwa.
While Sundowns continued to threaten, Rhinos’ had a few chances too, but those were limited to long range efforts. Kgasago’s goal gave Sundowns a narrows 1-0 lead at the break.
It was much of the same in the second half, as Masandawana threatened, but the narrow scoreline kept Black Rhinos in it.
That is until the 78th minute when Sundowns finally added to their tally, as Nonhlanhla Mthandi’s hard running paid off, as she race to beat Mudyiwa to a ball just outside the box, and the bounce went her way, and she was able to finish into an empty net.
Boitumelo Rabale wrapped the result up in stoppage time, with a fantastic strike from just inside the box.
It was a dominant and deserved qualification for the South African champions, who showed they were far and away the best team in the Cosafa region.
They advance to the eight team final tournament that will be held in Egypt later this year.
Wadi Degla will represent host Egypt at the finals, while Morocco’s AS FAR, Mali’s AS Mandé, Hasaacas Ladies from Ghana, and Nigeria’s River Angels have already booked their spots. The CECAFA and UNNFFAC qualifiers are currently underway, where the final two teams will be decided in the next two weeks.
