Defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies have been dumped out of the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League after a dramatic 2-1 defeat to Edo Queens at Laarbi Zaouli Stadium on Saturday evening.
Karabo Dhlamini set up Melinda Kgadiete for her third goal of the tournament in the 24th minute, the ultimate match-winner in a tight encounter.
The win means they finish second in the group with six points behind FC Masar who have seven points after they defeated CBE FC 2-0 in the other group decider.
Sundowns could have broken the deadlock in the opening five minutes through Nthabiseng Majiya but her shot from inside the box was blocked.
Rabale also had a chance to score from a free-kick but the keeper punched the ball away to deny her.
The Queens had two chances in the opening half one through Florence Ijamilusi who had her short saved by Andile Dlamini, the second one three minutes to the break, when Peace Essien hit the woodwork while facing an open net leaving Sundowns in the lead at the break.
The five-time Hollywoodbets Super League champions returned from the break unchanged while the Nigerian outfit made one change bringing on Esther Moses for Esther Inyang.
Eight minutes into the half Thato Letsoso brought down Essien in the box and gave away a penalty.
Captain Olise Chioma stepped up but Dlamini denied her to keep Sundowns in the lead. The scoring opportunities were fewer for most of the half with Sundowns having one from a Dhlamini set-piece which only landed in the Queens’ keeper’s and Ijamilusi six minutes after the hour mark which went wide.
Queens continued their to probe and when it looked all said and done, they re-wrote the script to send themselves into their debut semi-finals and win Group B with stoppage-time goals from Essien Emem and Mary Mamudu.
The semi-finals are scheduled for Tuesday 19 November 2024, where the Nigerian side will meet TP Mazembe, while debutants from Egypt, FC Masar will face ASFAR.
