Defending champions of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League|COSAFA qualifier, Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, dropped crucial points when they were held to a one-all draw by Double Action Ladies of Botswana.
The Group A clash took place at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium on Tuesday (9 August 2022).
The result means the Botswana outfit will have to defeat Mozambique’s Costa do Sol by seven or more goals when they face off in their final group stage match on Thursday to stand any chance of overtaking the defending champions at the summit of the table.
Sundowns Ladies put themselves in a great position following an 8-1 victory over the same Costa in their opening match of the tournament.
But the South Africans found the going tough in their second fixture against Double Action, and were trailing after defender Tiisetso Makhubela scored an own goal.
Melinda Kgadiete came to their rescue after a goalmouth scramble when she found the equalier – her third goal in the competition, and eighth overall in the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifier to lead the all-time scorers charts.
In Group B, Green Buffaloes confirmed their spot in the final with a convincing 4-0 win over Olympique de Moroni of Comoros to take total control of the group with six points.
Irene Lungu netted a hattrick, taking her tally in this year’s competition to five, while Natasha Nanyangwe chipped in with the other goal.
The Comoros side finished the game with one player short after defender Verasantatra Andrianandrasana received her marching orders when she handballed a goal-bound shot.
Young Buffaloes from Eswatini and Olympique will play second place and a shot at the bronze medal at the tournament when they meet in the last game in Group B on Thursday.
Green Buffaloes may actually welcome Sundowns reaching the final as that would guarantee the Zambians a place at the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League in Morocco later this year.
Sundowns quality automatically for the tournament as defending champions, so should they make the final, their opponent would also qualify whatever the result.
However, if it is to be Double Action then Green Buffaloes will know a victory is still needed in the decider to advance to the continental showpiece in Morocco later in the year.
Matches will be live on SuperSport, SABC Sport OTT, FIFA+ and COSAFA.TV.
TUESDAY’S RESULTS:
Group A
Double Action Ladies 1
(Makhubela 19’ og)
Mamelodi Sundowns 1
(Kgadiete 25’)
Group B
Olympique de Moroni 0
Green Buffaloes 4
(Lungu 29’, 63’, 70’pen, Nanyangwe 59’)
THURSDAY’S FIXTURES:
Group A
Costa do Sol vs Double Action Ladies
(KO 12h00; 10h00 GMT)
Group B
Young Buffaloes vs Olympique de Moroni
(KO 15h30; 13h30 GMT)
GROUP STANDINGS
| GROUP A | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Mamelodi Sundowns | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Double Action | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Costa do Sol | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | -7 | 0 |
| GROUP B | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Green Buffaloes | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 6 |
| Olympique de Moroni | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | -4 | 0 |
| Young Buffaloes | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | -4 | 0 |
TOURNAMENT STATS:
Matches Played: 4
Goals scored: 19
Biggest victory: Mamelodi Sundowns 8 Costa do Sol 1 (Group A, August 7)
Most goals in a game: 9 – Mamelodi Sundowns 8 Costa do Sol 1 (Group A, August 7)
GOALSCORERS:
5 goals – Ireen Lungu (Green Buffaloes)
3 – Melinda Kgadiete (Mamelodi Sundowns)
2 – Andisiwe Mgcoyi (Mamelodi Sundowns)
1 – Hellen Chanda (Green Buffaloes), Cidalia Cuta (Costa do Sol), Miche Minnies (Mamelodi Sundowns), Rhoda Mulaudzi (Mamelodi Sundowns), Anita Mulenga (Green Buffaloes), Natasha Nanyangwe (Green Buffaloes), Zanele Nhlapho (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Own goals – Nadia Farranguana (Costa do Sol), Tiisetso Makhubela (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Source: COSAFA.com
