Mamelodi Sundowns Quest for CAF Glory Comes to an Unexpected Halt

Zesco came from behind to claim the win and book a final place in their debut tournament, while Gaborone United eased past Costa do Sol from Mozambique 3-1 as they look to improve on their silver medal from last year.

The final will be at the same venue with a 14h00 kick-off time (12h00 GMT).

Sundowns looked to be on their way to the decider when Lesotho international Boitumelo Rabale gave them the lead on the stroke of halftime, turning and firing low into the bottom corner of the net.

Zesco equalised after a howler from Sundowns goalkeeper Andile Dlamini, who spilled a simple take, and Eneless Phiri turned the ball into an empty net.

Sundowns had their chance to go ahead again, but it was Zesco who found the winner following another poor error from Dlamini.

Tiisetso Makhubela’s error put Fridah Kabwe through on goal, but the Zambian’s shot was tame and straight at Dlamini, who nonetheless spilled the ball into the net.

Kabwe thought she had secured the win when she got a third in injury time, firing into the net as Zesco caught Sundowns on the counter-attack, but the goal was ruled out via a Video Assistant Referee check.

The defeat was the first ever in regulation time for Sundowns in the competition and arguably the biggest upset in CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifier history.

Gaborone United took the lead against Costa do Sol in the 16th minute when a sweeping move saw tournament top scorer Gaonyadiwe Ontlametse side-foot home as she found space in the box.

It was 2-0 just before halftime as Maungo Maponga’s volley from 25 yards floated into the back of the net for her fifth goal of the campaign.

Costa do Sol were back in it two minutes later as Samira Latifo scored a superb curling effort from the edge of the box, continuing the list of high-quality goals.

That remained the score until two minutes from the end when Ontlametse scored her seventh of the campaign, brilliantly chested down a cross and steered the ball into the back of the net.

Ontlametse extended her record number of goals in the competition to 13 and now holds the record for the most goals in a single campaign with seven. She also netted six times in the competition for Double Action Ladies between 2021 and 2023.Entrance for fans to the final will be FREE of charge. If you cannot get to the stadium, you can watch the game streamed LIVE on FIFA+.

FRIDAY’S RESULTSSemifinalsGaborone United Ladies FC 3 (Ontlametse 16’, 88’, Maponga 43’) Costa Do Sol 1 (Latifo 45’)

Mamelodi Sundowns 1 (Rabale 45’) Zesco Ndola Girls 2 (Phiri 53’, Kabwe 89’)

SUNDAY’S FIXTUREFinalGaborone United Ladies FC vs Zesco Ndola Girls (14h00 CAT; 12h00 GMT) 

TOURNAMENT STATSMatches Played: 14Goals scored: 61Biggest victory: Gaborone United Ladies FC 10 Kick4Life 1 (Group B, August 27)Most goals in a game: 9 – Gaborone United Ladies FC 10 Kick4Life 1 (Group B, August 27)

GOALSCORERS7 goals – Gaonyadiwe Ontlametse (Gaborone United Ladies FC)5 – Maungo Maponga (Gaborone United Ladies FC)3 – Bambanani Mbane (Mamelodi Sundowns), Morelife Nyagumbo (Herentals Queens), Eneless Phiri (Zesco Ndola Girls), Refilwe Tholakele (Mamelodi Sundowns)2 – Avell Chitundu (Zesco Ndola Girls), Millicent Hikuam (Beauties FC), Lucia Moçambique (Costa do Sol), Boitumelo Rabale (Mamelodi Sundowns)1 – Anllaouia Ali (Olympic de Moroni), Suraya Ali (Olympic de Moroni), Rose Alufandika (Ntopwa FC), Twelikondjele Amukoto (Beauties FC), Kondawo Banda (Ntopwa FC), Keitumetse Dithebe (Gaborone United Ladies FC), Nomvuyo Dvuba (Young Buffaloes), Fridah Kabwe (Zesco Ndola Girls), Desiree Kenyaditswe (Gaborone United Ladies FC), Samira Latifo (Costa do Sol), Polite Mabika (Herentals Queens), Eunencia Machava (Costa do Sol), Karabo Makhurubetshi (Mamelodi Sundowns), Solomampionona Mamonjy(Olympic de Moroni), Nteboheleng Mohoshela (Kick4Life), Nthabiseng Majiya (Mamelodi Sundowns), Milla Milambo (Zesco Ndola Girls), Charity Mubanga (Zesco Ndola Girls), Sandra Mugwara (Mamelodi Sundowns), Joana Mussuie (Costa do Sol), Nonjabuliso Mokgale (Young Buffaloes), Penelope Mulubwa (Zesco Ndola Girls), Lebohang Ramalepe (Mamelodi Sundowns), Lerato Tsoinyane (Kick4Life), Jessie Yosefe (Ntopwa FC)Own goals – Marlene Janeiro (Costa do Sol), Matseliso Mosala (Kick4Life), Ruth Nyirongo (Ntopwa FC