Defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns opened their 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League account with a shock 1-0 loss to FC Masar in a Group B tie at Stade Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca, Morocco, on Sunday, 10 November, 2024.
In the fourth minute of first-half injury time, a foul in the box by defender Tiisetso Makhubela handed the Egyptian side a penalty. Sandrine Niyonkuru stepped up and converted the chance to hand her side their first goal and thus their win of their debut game in the women’s continental club showpiece.
Sundowns Ladies coach Jerry Tshabalala points out their shortcomings in the encounter.
“Not a result that we would have wanted, you know? We would have loved to start the tournament on a positive note. Unfortunately, today it wasn’t to be. But, you know, in terms of the game, I think in the first half, we were a little bit poor in terms of how we applied ourselves.”
“We allowed Masar to be first on the ball. We were always late on the ball. We couldn’t even win even a second ball, you know? But we tried to rectify that second half and come out very, very strong.”
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies Head Coach, Jerry Tshabalala
Tshabalala’s charges created chances but were unable to find the back of the net and struggled to breakdown the newcomers defence.
“I still believe that we could have won this game in terms of the number of chances that we created in the box,” said coach Tshabalala. “One – vs – one with the goalkeeper, we can’t convert. But we can’t blame the guys that much. They gave their all. They gave their all. Yes, one or two players or three players, they were not themselves, in terms of how we know them,” added the award winning coach.
He also credits his side for a much better effort in the second stanza. “But overall, I think the guys, especially in the second half, they did great, especially the subs that we’ve made. They’ve managed to make the team play, in terms of the fluidity of the game. The game flowed a little bit.”
The debutantes, part of the Right to Dream Academy community, came into the match as heavy underdogs against the experienced South African side, who are five time champions in the Hollywoodbets Super League.
“I think credit must also go to FC Masar in terms of how they’ve applied themselves, especially defensively. You know, they showed that they’re not here just to earn a number. They showed that they’re here. They want to compete. So I guess for us, it’s to go back to the throwing board and dig deep, because we still have two more games to play. And I believe that we’re still in it with a chance to bounce back.”
However, Masar’s youthful squad, with an average age 20.6, showed resilience and tactical discipline much to the credit of Banyana Ba Style.
Sundowns are winners of the tournament in 2021 and 2023 and runners-up in the other in the 2022 edition, will fight to rally back in Group B back when they meet CBE of Ethiopia in their second game on Wednesday at 16:00 SA time.
“Now it’s for us to show character that we are the real defending champions and come back strong and win the last two games and go through to the semis. So we just have to go back to the throwing board and work hard.
“If we get a positive result in the next game, I believe that the mood will be back again, the hang-up will be back to say we want to defend the title. For now, it’s all about going back and motivating the players. And it’s still that belief to say we’re still in it and we can still win it.
It was overall not a great start for South African teams in the opening weekend of the CAF WCL as University of Western Cape also lost 2-0 to TP Mazembe in their maiden game of the competition.
Thinasonke Mbuli’s team face Senegal’s Aigles de la Médina in their second game, on Tuesday 12 November at 16:00 SA time.
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 FC Masar on Sunday, 10 November, 2024
6 Maitumelo Bosija (GK)
2 Tiisetso Mkhubela
4 Thato Letsoso
12 Bambabani Mbane (C)
14 Lebohang Ramalepe
8 Karabo Dhlamini
10 Boitumelo Rabale
11 Melinda Kgadiete
16 Lelona Daweti
19 Kholoso Biyana
21 Nonhlanhla Mthandi
Head Coach: Jerry Tshabalala
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
16:00 Mamelodi Sundowns 0 – 1 FC Masar
19:00 CBE Women 0 – 3 Edu Queens
Group A Fixtures on Tuesday, 12 November, 2024
16:00 University of the Western Cape vs Aigles de la Médina
19:00 AS FAR vs TP Mazembe
Group B Fixtures on Wednesday, 13 November, 2024
16:00 Mamelodi Sundowns vs CBE
19:00 Edu Queens vs 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: FC Masar’s defence stood firm after the Egyptian debutants took the lead late in first half extra time, going on to win their debut CAF Women’s Champions League match against defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies at the Stade Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca, Morocco, on Sunday, 10 November, 2024. Photo: UWC FC
Photo 2 Caption: Coach Jerry Tshabalala credited the FC Masar defense, which soaked up wave after wave of Mamelodi Sundowns attack without breach. Photo: CAF
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