Mamelodi Sundowns lock horns with Vihiga Queens in the inaugural edition of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League. This occasion serves as the first step to Masandawana replicating the glory that their men’s team brought to South Africa after returning to Mzansi’s shores by raising the prestigious trophy aloft.
Three group ties against Rivers Angels (Nigeria) AS FAR (Morocco) and Vihiga Queens will be the first order of business. The next stage will see the top-two teams from each group battle it out in straight knockout football. Let’s delve deeper into this clash in our preview!
CAF Women’s Champions League – Group B
Saturday 6 November
Al Salam Stadium, Cairo, Egypt
16:00
Vihiga Queens
Vihiga Queens hail from East Africa, the 2017, 2018 & 2019 Kenyan Women’s Premier League champions had one eighth of a chance to qualify for this tournament and fought through adversity in the CECAFA Qualifiers (Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations) to book their ticket to Cairo and become a part of women’s football history.
Drawn in Group B during qualification, Vihiga Queens finished second behind Ethiopian club CBE FC, after convincingly beating Yei Join Stars FC (South Sudan) & New Generation FC (Zanzibar).
Vihiga Queens then went on to beat Group A winners, Simba Queens (Tanzania) 2-1 in the semi-finals, and got their revenge over CBE FC by the same scoreline, when it mattered the most, in the final.
Jentrix Shikangwa, Maurine Achieng and Violet Wanyonyi scored 17 goals between themselves during the qualification matches mentioned above.
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies
Head coach, Jerry Tshabalala, with the assistance of Agnes Nkosi have the responsibility of guiding Masandawana to continental glory. Mamelodi Sundowns made a crystal-clear statement of intent during their qualification matches, handing out a few thrashings and putting their names forward as one of the favourites.
Sundowns breezed past Double Action Ladies (Botswana), Manzini Wanderers LFC (Eswatini), and Lesotho Defense Force during the group phase of qualification, before ousting Double Action Ladies once more in the semi-finals and securing a comfortable 3-0 victory over Zimbabwean club Black Rhinos Queens in the final of COSAFA Qualifiers (Council of Southern Africa Football Associations).
The Brazilians have been boosted by goalkeeper Andile ‘Sticks’ Dlamini returning to fitness, in a department that held down by Asa Rabolao while Banyana Banyana central defender Bambanani Mbane will marshal the back-line alongside experienced campaigners Karabo ‘Makhu’ Makhurubetshi and captain Zanele Nhlapo.
In midfield, Sundowns have made headlines in recent weeks, most notably by starting 15-year-old Lumka Qhekeka who shone on debut netting a brace in 45 minutes, however, personally I expect the tried and tested to start this match.
Chuene Morifi, Chantelle Esau, Oratile Mokwena, Rhoda Mulaudzi, Lelona Daweti, Boitumelo Rabale, Melinda Kgadiete and Andisiwe Mgcoyi offer the coaching staff enough strength in depth, while covering different but specific ways of attacking the opposition among the group.
Prediction: Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies Win
The South Africans have a magnificent record in club football, you’d really have to do your homework to find out their last defeat in any competition. In the Hollywoodbets Super League, Sundowns seem a different class, much like their male counterparts who’re currently the benchmark of football in the country, over the past decade.
The question isn’t, “Can Sundowns win?” but rather, how much do you have to empty out on a convincing Masandawana victory at the Al Salam Stadium.
Written by Bryan Naicker