Refilwe Tholakele netted a brace to help Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies defeat ZESCO Ndola Girls 2-1 in the CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA qualifiers final at Gaborone United Stadium on Saturday.
This means the two time African champions have qualified for the continental finals for the first time in two years with the Botswana international also finishing the regional tournament as the top goal scorer with seven goals.
Sundowns opened the scoring at the first whistle through Tholakele who punished ZESCO’s poor defense. ZESCO’s consolation came off the boot of Charity Mubanga in injury-time of the first half.
Karabo Dhlamini was a handful, especially in the first half and almost doubled her side’s lead in the 13th minute but her shot forced Annie Nomonje to literally put her body on the line to make a save. Four minutes later Dhlamini was fouled winning Sundowns a set-piece. She struck the ball to Isabella Ludwig’s head but the latter’s effort went wide.
The Zambian side was guilty of wasting their set-pieces with Enelless Phiri and Pualine Zulu missing targets. There was a chance for Noxolo Cesane to increase the lead in the 29th minute however she was denied by the wood work. Five minutes after the half hour mark there was controversy as Lelona Daweti was pushed down in the box only for VAR to not award a penalty.
Three minutes to the break Tholakele headed a Dhlamini pass wide while inside the box and they were punished for wasting that chance in injury-time. ZESCO won a free-kick, Phiri struck it into the box and Mubanga slotted it home to level matters at halftime.
Nthabiseng Majiya replaced Daweti as Sundowns’ second half substitute while Fridah Kabwe came on for Phiri for ZESCO. A real shot at goal in the half came from Mubanga in the 51st minute when she took a long range shot which Andile Dlamini safely tucked away.
It was Sundwons’ turn four minutes later when Dhlamini found Ludwig in the box but she miss kicked the ball with only the keeper to beat. Tholakele regained Godfrey Sapula’s side lead converting a penalty in the 63rd minute after Majiya was judged to have been fouled in the box by VAR.
Sundowns were denied another late penalty in injury-time after VAR review after the referee had initially pointed to the spot for a foul on Majiya.
The Hollywoodbets Super League champions also finished the tournament with the best defensive record, having conceded only two goals the entire tournament.