Mamelodi Sundowns cruised to a 3-0 win over Morocco’s Sporting Club Casablanca in the final of the CAF Women’s Champions League in Cote d’Ivoire on Sunday.
A brace from top scorer Tholakele Refilwe and a lone strike from Boitumelo Rabale’s earned the South Africans victory in the final played at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Korhogo.
The South Africans’ impressive run in Cote d’Ivoire not only sees them reclaim the title they lost to AS FAR last season, but they set a record of lifting the title without conceding a single goal in all five games enroute to glory.
This was the second meeting for the two sides in the tournament after meeting in the group stages where Sundowns won by a lone goal.
Refilwe scored via a penalty in the 21st minute, and a cool finish just before the end of the first half. Rabale’s 78th minute goal sealed a second CAF Women’s Champions League title for the South African side.
The South African club won the inaugural title in 2021 and finished as runners-up to Moroccan club AS FAR in the second edition last year.
Their victory also comes a week after Sundowns’ men’s team won the inaugural African Football League (AFL) last Sunday.
“We want to keep on doing good. Now the target, we are hoping that one day we will have a (Women’s) Club World Cup and we will go represent as the African champions,” said an elated Sundowns coach Jerry Tshabalala at the end of the match.
For the coach of debutants SC Casablanca, Mehdi El Qaichori, it was a good experience for his team.
“I want to congratulate Mamelodi Sundowns for the win. They played very well today and were the better team. This was a great tournament which is also good for women’s football in Africa,” he said.
The winner gets a $400,000 winner’s prize cheque.
Meanwhile, Morocco’s AS Far finished in third place after their 2-0 win over Ghana’s Ampem Darkoa Ladies 2-0 in a third and fourth play-off match on Saturday.
