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Mamelodi Sundowns became the Ladies Queens of Africa once more after thrashing Sporting Club Casablanca
Mamelodi Sundowns’ ladies made African football history by becoming the first team to win the CAF Women’s Champions League for the second time.
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Sundowns defeated Sporting Club Casablanca 3-0 in the Champions League final on Sunday evening at Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Korhogo, Ivory Coast.
Sundowns’ second victory in the competition came in their third final in a row, having won the inaugural title in 2021 before falling to AS FAR 4-0 last year.
Sunbdowns’ men’s squad won the first Africa Football League (AFL) last Sunday, giving the Brazilians their second continental trophy in less than a week.
Both the ladies’ and men’s victories came against Moroccan opponents, highlighting the club’s status as an African football superpower.
Two-time continental conquerors👆 Banyana Ba Style are bringing it back home!!!🇿🇦💛
20’ & 77’ Tholakele
23’ Rabale #SundownsLadies #CAFWCL pic.twitter.com/eV5jED4Vat— Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies Team (@SundownsLadies) November 19, 2023
It was a dream start and finish that even coach Jerry Tshabalala didn’t see coming, having stressed that this game would be a difficult match, despite beating Casablanca 1-0 in the group stage.
But this Sundowns team proved that they have big-match temperament, taking the game to the Moroccans from start to finish – to the delight of the locals who supported them from the first minute to the last.
The Ivorians didn’t cheer and celebrate alone in the stands, they were joined by Downs’ first lady Precious Moloi-Motsepe, who was with her husband, CAF president Patrice Motsepe.
Sundowns were awarded a penalty in the 20th minute. Chuene Morifi’s effort came off the hand of N’guessan Kofi, but referee Suavis Iratunga allowed for play to continue.
But after consulting with the video assistant referee (VAR), who directed her to the monitor, the Burundian referee awarded Sundowns the penalty.
Tholakele Tebogo made no mistake from the spot, slotting home her fourth goal of the tournament as Sundowns took a step closer to the promised land.
Five minutes later, Sundowns put daylight between them and the Moroccans, as Boitumelo Rabale unleashed a grass-cutter past Imane Abdelahad in the SCC goal after Melinda Kgadiete’s cut-back.
Sundowns were nearly three goals to the good soon afterwards after Kholosa Biyana launched a curling thunderbolt into the top corner only for Abdelahad to claw the ball out to make the save.
5 – Refilwe Tholakele is now the leading scorer at the 2023 CAF Women's Champions League with five goals, also the most ever scored by a @SundownsLadies at a single #CAFWCL edition. Starring. pic.twitter.com/WMPDKlkdJr
— OptaJabu (@OptaJabu) November 19, 2023
Her rebound, though, fell to the path of Morifi, who quickly found Kgadiete, but the Banyana international’s goal-bound diving header was also saved by Abdelahad.
Having kept clean sheets since the start of the tournament, Sundowns’ No 1 Andile Dlamini ensured she kept five clean sheets across all five matches en route to the second star.
Her first real test tonight, though, was saving Agueissa Diarra’s shot from close-range after Casablanca’s first threat midway through the first half.
And after Casablanca returned with vigour in the second, Dlamini again proved why she’s one of Africa’s best, saving Chymaa Mourtaji’s close-range effort to consolidate her record.
But Sundowns proved just why they are “Banyana ba Style”. Lebogang Ramalepe found Kgadiete who skinned her marker before setting up Tebogo, who found her second goal.
It was a brilliant tournament from Sundowns and every SA football fan will hope that Bafana Bafana came come to Ivory Coast during the Africa Cup of Nations next year and replicate these heroics!
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