Source: @News24
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies have twice conquered Africa after winning the COSAFA qualifying tournament, giving them a record few rivals can match heading into the African Women’s Champions League in Egypt from 1 to 15 November. The harder task now is repeating that sequence against opponents who will have studied their strengths and recognise the danger they pose.
Sundowns Ladies secured their place by beating Zambia’s ZESCO Ndola Girls 2-1 in August’s COSAFA final in Gaborone. Refilwe Tholakele scored both goals, converting a penalty and adding another finish to settle the contest. Her Golden Boot award reinforced her value in a side that has repeatedly delivered when regional honours are at stake.
Their previous COSAFA triumphs in 2021 and 2023 both preceded African titles. That record gives Sundowns Ladies a strong platform, but the continental competition presents a different examination. Regional superiority must translate into consistent performances against champions whose tactical habits, physical attributes and match management vary across the continent.
Why Egypt presents a different test
The tournament’s eight-team format leaves little room for a slow start. CAF confirmed on 20 October that the clubs will be divided into two groups of four, with the top two from each group advancing to the semi-finals. The draw is scheduled for Cairo on the same day.
The Ladies have been placed among the highest-ranked clubs based on performances across the last three editions. Defending champions AS FAR of Morocco join them in the leading seeding category, giving the South Africans an early indication of the standard required to win the competition.
AS FAR pose the most obvious test of Sundowns’ continental credentials. The Moroccan side already knows how to navigate the tournament’s decisive stages, while FUS Rabat gives Morocco a second representative. Uganda’s Kawempe Muslim, Cameroon’s Lekié Football Girls, Mali’s USFAS Bamako, the WAFU Zone B qualifier and Egyptian hosts FC Masar complete the field.
Sundowns Ladies will need more than individual quality to retain their edge. Tholakele’s scoring instinct can settle tight contests, but opponents may attempt to limit her service and force other players to take responsibility in the final third. Midfield control will therefore be crucial, particularly when matches become compressed and possession comes under pressure.
Defensive concentration will carry equal importance. In a short tournament, one lapse can turn a controlled performance into a costly defeat. Sundowns Ladies must remain organised when possession changes hands and resist the temptation to force attacks when patient build-up offers better opportunities.
The prize extends beyond African supremacy. The continental winners will face either Asian champions Naegohyang Women’s FC or Oceania representatives Auckland United in December for a place in the final stage of FIFA’s Women’s Champions Cup in Miami in January 2027. Barcelona and Club América have already secured places in that final phase.
Sundowns Ladies have already shown they can turn regional success into African dominance. In Egypt, they must keep their standards high from the group stage onwards, with AS FAR and the other contenders ready to pounce on any weakness. A third continental crown would strengthen their standing in African football and earn them the chance to test their quality against the world’s leading club sides.
