Defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns made amends after their opening encounter shock loss to FC Masar in style, emerging comfortable victors over Ethiopians CBE in their second 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League match Casablanca, Morocco, on Wednesday, 13 November, 2024.
Banyana Ba Style returned to the dominant style of play with goals from Woman of the Match Melinda Kgadiete who scored a brace in the 16th and 29th minute. Lesotho star Boitumelo Rabale and Lelona Daweti also contributed to the tally in the 24th and 36th minute, respectively.
While satisfied with the victory Sundowns coach Jerry Tshabalala says there’s still room for improvement.
“It was really important for us to bounce back very strong. We started the tournament on a negative note, so we needed to redeem ourselves today, and credit must go to the girls in terms of the performance that has been shown.”
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies Head Coach, Jerry Tshabalala
“As much as we scored about four goals, there are still a few things that I believe that I’m not happy with in terms of how we played. I still feel there are certain finer things that we need to fix with the team,” said Tshabalala. “We could have scored more than four in this game, but we really appreciate the four goals and three points. I still believe there’s still a lot of room for improvement in the team.”
Banyana Banyana international Kgadiete says they couldn’t afford anything less than 3 points.
“Because we lost the first game, we had to win this one. It was a must win so that we can have a chance to go to the semifinals. It gives us a hope that we can go to the semifinals.”
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies Double Scorer and Player of the Mat, Melinda Kgadiete
She adds that the loss to Masar inspired her to improve her game, and that performance earned her the day’s top accolade.
“I’m happy. Since the first game I didn’t do well so I had to redeem myself to help the team to win and have a contribution. So I had to do something today.”
Asked what he told his team in the change rooms ahead of the game, coach Tshabalala says he needed to highlight some key things.
“I needed to remind them how important it is for us to be in this competition, you know and with us carrying the hopes of South Africa back home, we can’t bow out of the tournament in a group stage. That would be very, very sad for us, having two teams from South Africa representing a bigger country in South Africa.”
Tshabalala also paid some respect to his opposition. “Credit must go to CBE.”
“The manner in which they applied themselves, despite them conceding four goals in the first half, but I think they tested our character and it’s something that I believe that we still need to fine-tune something. There’s something that’s missing in this team and we really want to do well, and we have to fix it as quick as possible.”
With this being their second consecutive loss following their crushing 3-0 defeat to TP Edo Queens, the loss to Sundowns spells the end of CBE’s debut in the CAF Women’s Champions League.
The reigning champions shift focus to a crucial decider on Saturday where they will face Edo Queens to determine whether they continue with their title defence in Morocco.
The CAF Women’s Champions League Finals 2024
Group A
AS FAR (Morocco)
Aigles de la Médina (Senegal)
TP Mazembe (DR Congo)
University of the Western Cape (South Africa)
Group B
Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
FC Masar (Egypt)
CBE (Ethiopia)
Edu Queens (Nigeria)
Mamelodi Sundowns FC Starting X1 vs CBE FC on Wednesday, 13 November, 2024
1 Andile Dlamini (GK)
2 Tiisetso Mkhubela
5 Asanda Hadebe
12 Bambabani Mbane (C)
13 Oratile Mokwena
14 Lebohang Ramalepe
8 Karabo Dhlamini
10 Boitumelo Rabale
11 Melinda Kgadiete
16 Lelona Daweti
21 Nonhlanhla Mthandi
Head Coach: Thinasonke Mbuli
Fixtures and Results of the CAF Women’s Champions League Finals 2024 in Morocco
Group A Results on Saturday, 9 November, 2024
TP Mazembe 2 – 0 University of the Western Cape
AS FAR 3 – 0 Aigles de la Médina
Group B Fixtures on Sunday, 10 November, 2024
Mamelodi Sundowns 0 – 1 FC Masar
CBE Women 0 – 3 Edu Queens
Group A Fixtures on Tuesday, 12 November, 2024
University of the Western Cape 2 – 0 Aigles de la Médina
AS FAR 3 – 1 TP Mazembe
Group B Fixtures on Wednesday, 13 November, 2024
Mamelodi Sundowns 4 – 0 CBE
Edu Queens 0 – 0 FC Masar
Group A Fixtures on Friday, 15 November, 2024
19:00 Aigles de la Médina vs TP Mazembe
19:00 University of the Western Cape vs AS FAR
Group B Fixtures on Saturday, 16 November, 2024
19:00 Edu Queens vs Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies
19:00 FC Masar vs CBE Women
Main Photo Caption: Defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies gave their best against CBE FC to give themselves the best possible chance to qualify for the knock-out rounds of the CAF Women’s Champions League Finals 2024 at Stade El Arbi Zaouli in Casablanca, Morocco, on Wednesday, 13 November, 2024. Photo: UWC FC
Photo 2 Caption: With Player of the Match opening scoring for her first of two, Melinda Kgadiete lead Sundowns to score four times in 20 minutes before half time. Photo: CAF
Photo 2 Caption: Boitumelo Rabale was delighted to sink her goal at 24 minutes into the game for Mamelodi Sundown’s third of the match. Photo: CAF
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