Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies were crowned the 2023 CAF Women’s Champions League winners after a 3-0 win over Sporting Casablanca in the final at Stade Amadou Gon Coulibaly on Sunday evening.
A brace from Refilwe Tholakele of goals in each half and a Boitumelo Rabale strike ensured that the Hollywoodbets Super League champions, are winners again in three years following the same feat in the inaugural event in 2021.
Coach Jerry Tshabalala made one change to the team that beat ASFAR as champions in the semi-finals starting Melinda Kgadiete ahead of Andisiwe Mgcoyi.
Sundowns showed signs of scoring early in the match but it took 21 minutes to get their first goal. There was a hand ball in the Casablanca box in the 18th minute blocking Chuene Morifi’s shot with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) awarding Sundowns a penalty.
Refilwe Tholakele stepped up and converted scoring her fourth goal of the tournament and essentially becoming the tournament’s top goal scorer with the goal.
Three minutes later a ball started by Lebo Ramalepe found Kgadiete who then passed to Boitumelo Rabale who made no mistake from range to score Sundowns’ second of the match.
In the second half Sundowns introduced Oratile Mokwena for Kholosa Biyana and it took seven minutes in the stanza for any real action and this time coming from the Moroccan side.
Sundowns momentarily lost possession in a dangerous position however were saved by Andile Dlamini in what looked like a real chance for Casablanca to get back into the game.
The COSAFA region champions had a chance to triple their lead three minutes later after another VAR decision that saw Meryem Hajri who fouled Kgadiete booked.
A free-kick was given to Sundowns which was taken by Rabale who found Ramalepe but her attempt was saved by Imane Abdelahad. Tholakele could have completed her brace at the hour mark coming from the right but her shot was saved by the Casablanca goalie. Rabale had another shot at the opposing keeper in the 67th minute that went over the bar.
There were chances for Casablanca to get back into the game through Chaymaa Mourtaji in the 70th and 71st minutes, the first one was deflected from range and went wide and the second Dlamini was out of position after a poor clearance but the shot went over the bar with no one in goals.
In the 79th minute Tholakele completed a brace from a Kgadiete assist to make it 3-0 for Sundowns and take her goal tally to five.
Sundowns finished the tournament with a perfect defensive record having not conceded at all in all their five encounters and that resulting in Andile Dlamini being Goalkeeper of the Tournament. Botswana international Tholakele was the top goal scorer on five goals.
