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Sundowns Ladies reach CAF Women’s Champions League final

Sundowns started brightly and pushed for an early goal, but they were unable to capitalise on their chances in the opening stages.

Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies Picture: Supplied

Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies have booked their place in the final of the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League after a commanding 4-1 victory over Kawempe Muslim Ladies on Wednesday evening.

The South African champions will face defending champions AS FAR of Morocco in Sunday’s final, with the continental title and a place in the next stage of the global women’s club competition at stake.

Godfrey Sapula made one change to the side that defeated FUS Rabat 3-0 in their final group-stage match, with Lelona Daweti coming into the starting XI for Boitumelo Rabale.

Sundowns started brightly and pushed for an early goal, but they were unable to capitalise on their chances in the opening stages.

Ronnel Donnelly then took centre stage, scoring her first-ever CAF Women’s Champions League hat-trick, the first hat-trick of this year’s tournament, while Noxolo Cesane added the other goal as Sundowns secured their place in the final.

Kawempe Muslim Ladies pulled one back in the 72nd minute when Latifah Nakasi headed home, but Sundowns held on comfortably to secure a second consecutive appearance in the final.

AS FAR also booked their place in the final after edging Cameroonian debutants Lekie 1-0.

The defending champions were made to work hard for the victory, with experienced midfielder and captain Ghizlane Chebbak producing the decisive moment.

Chebbak struck two minutes after half-time to give AS FAR the lead, and the Moroccan side held on to reach the final for the second successive year.

Sunday’s final will therefore see a repeat battle between two of the continent’s leading women’s clubs, with Sundowns looking to reclaim the CAF Women’s Champions League crown and AS FAR aiming to retain their title.

The winners will take home US$600,000 in prize money.

The CAF Women’s Champions League winners will also advance to the second round of the 2027 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup, where they are scheduled to face Naegohyang Women’s FC of North Korea in December 2026.

A victory in that tie would see the African champions progress to the later stages of the global competition, with the final phase scheduled for January 2027 in Miami.

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