As expected, the Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies team dominate the CAF Women’s Champions League Cote d’Ivoire 2023 Best XI after five of their players were named in the tournament’s best team, along with Head Coach Jerry Tshabalala.
Goalkeeper of the Tournament, Andile Dlamini leads the charge, flanked by her defenders, captain Zanele Nhlapho and Lebohang Ramalepe, the latter chipping in with one goal during the tournament – in fact she scored the first goal for Sundown Ladies (vs JKT Queens).
Also included is the livewire midfielder, Lesotho’s finest, Boitumelo Rabale, who walked away with the Player of the Tournament accolade for her magnificent contribution, as well as two goals to her name, and selected Player of the Match twice.
Completing the playing personnel is Refilwe Tholakele who has been described as a ‘lethal goal poacher of note, possesses great strength, height and a vision for goal in tight positions’. The Botswana international netted five goals in the 2023 campaign and walked away with the Top Goal Scorer award in Cote d’Ivoire.
Tshabalala’s coaching acumen is unmatched in this competition. He has now let Sundowns Ladies to their third tournament (2021, 2022, 2023) where they played 15 matches – winning 13, drawing one and losing one.
In the recently-ended competition, the South African outfit sailed through five matches with as many victories, and without conceding. It was also his leadership style that brought belief and positivity in the team – and this helped the team being named the Fair Play Team of the Tournament.
Also, all the semi-finalists are represented in the Best XI line-up – from runners-up, SC Casablanca, bronze medallists AS Far to tournament debutants, Ampem Darkoa.
- Yeboah Comfort – Ampem Darkoa
- Meryhem Hajri – SC Casablanca
- Adjoa Sylviane Kokrai – SC Casablanca
- Ghizlane Chebbak – AS Far
- Jennifer Owusuaa – Ampem Darkoa
- Fatima Tagnaout – AS Far
CAF Women’s Champions League, Cote d’Ivoire 2023 Best Xl | 4-3-3 Formation
GOALKEEPER:
Andile Dlamini – Mamelodi Sundowns
- The Mamelodi Sundowns’ last line of defence enjoyed a great tournament in Cote d’Ivoire, keeping five clean sheets across all fixtures and being a great ball distributor when required. Dlamini was also voted the best Goalkeeper of the tournament which adds to her existing accolade of the 2022 CAF Awards Goalkeeper of the year award.
DEFENDERS:
Yeboah Comfort – Ampem Darkoa
- The Ghanaian left-footed defender has natural speed and technique which drove a number of attacks down the left for Ampem Darkoa in their impressive debut. In addition to being solid at the back, the Ghanian star strikes the ball very well and poses a threat if given a chance at goal.
Meryhem Hajri – SC Casablanca
- With height, strength and a great sense of awareness, Meryhem Hajri has certainly earned her place in the Best Xl of the competition. The no-nonsense defender displayed great leadership qualities and played a critical role in SC Casablanca’s silver-medal finish as a centre back.
Zanele Nhlapho – Mamelodi Sundowns
- The Mamelodi Sundowns skipper commanded respect in the Sundowns defence with a vocal leadership at centre back. Nhlapho was very clinical in her tackles which contributed greatly in Sundowns’ five clean sheets at the tournament.
Lebohang Ramalepe – Mamelodi Sundowns
- A naturally gifted attacker, Lebohang Ramalepe is equally good in defence and while going forward, always remembers her defensive duties. One of the most skilful defenders that can also play as a midfielder, Ramalepe instigated a number of attacks from the right, coupled with clinical crosses.
MIDFIELDERS:
Adjoa Sylviane Kokrai – SC Casablanca
- Adjoa Kokrai was a handful for defenders in Cote d’Ivoire. Speed, agility and skill are some of her qualities as midfielder. A great distributor of the ball as well, with a great sense of awareness around her in the middle of the park.
Boitumelo Rabale – Mamelodi Sundowns
- The Mamelodi Sundowns playmaker was voted best player of the tournament. Playing as a deep lying playmaker, Rabale has a great ability of finding herself in good spaces where she is able to eliminate defenders and get into good goalscoring opportunities. Her goal in the final against SC Casablanca is testament of her lethal capabilities as an attacker.
Ghizlane Chebbak – AS Far
- The AS Far captain has the heart of a lioness. Even with her side’s rather slow start to the competition, the skipper was consistent in leading by example with consistent top performances. A quick thinker in tight situations with an incredible burst of pace that proved to be a challenge for her markers in Cote d’Ivoire.
FORWARDS:
Jennifer Owusuaa – Ampem Darkoa
- Jennifer Owusuaa was certainly one of the shining stars for Ampem Darkoa. Despite playing in her first CAF Women’s Champions League, Owusuaa showed great courage and tenacity in taking defenders on and showing no signs of being timid.
She capped her performance with a goal in the narrow semi-final narrow to SC Casablanca to put the cherry on top for what has been an exceptional performance by the forward.
Fatima Tagnaout – AS Far
- AS Far’s Fatima Tagnaout was one of the tournament’s most outstanding attackers. Despite her side not being able to retain their title, she was outstanding in her attacking play, accompanying this with a goal and creating goal scoring opportunities for her teammates.
Refilwe Tholakele – Mamelodi Sundowns
- A lethal goal poacher of note, Tholakele Refilwe finished the tournament as the highest goal scorer with five goals to her name. Refilwe possesses great strength, height and a vision for goal in tight positions. She certainly earns her place in leading the CAF Women’s Champions League Best Xl attack.
Coach – Jerry Tshabalala
- Coach Jerry Tshabalala led Mamelodi Sundowns to their third CAF Women’s Champions League final in succession. He has proven to be a great reader of the game and showed great tactical acumen in how he lined up his side against the different opponents throughout the competition. Not only is he a great coach, coach Jerry has instilled a positive spirit of gamesmanship in the team that saw Mamelodi Sundowns also being named the Fair Play Team of the tournament.
By Matlhomola Morake
