Zambian League champions Green Buffaloes have been crowned the 2022 TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifier.
This after they dethroned defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies 6-5 on penalties in the final at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Durban on Saturday (13 August).
Both sides failed to find the back of the next following 120 minutes of football, with Sundowns finishing the match with 10 players after Oratile Mokwena picked up her second yellow card of the game and was sent off in the 81st minute.
In the penalty shootout, captain Zanele Nhlapo, Lerato Kgasago, Chantelle Esau, Rhoda Mulaudzi and Bambanani Mbane converted their kicks.
Thalea Smidt, Lelona Daweti and Morifi Chuene missed from the spot during sudden death.
Captain Joana Benai of Green Buffaloes slotted the spot-kick to win the day for the Zambian club.
They become only the second team to lift this trophy after Sundowns won the inaugural title last year.
Both sides, however, have qualified for the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League finals in Morocco later this year.
They will represent the COSAFA region in the continental showpiece.
Earlier in the day, Double Action Ladies from Botswana finished in third place after cruising to a 3-0 win over Olympique de Moroni.
Two goals from Obonetse Rathari and an own goal by Moroni’s Hadhirami Anlaouia, was enough to hand victory to Double Action.
Melinda Kgadiete of Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies walked away with the Player of the Tournament award, while Aisha Mbwana of Green Buffaloes was named the best goalkeeper in the competition.
Ireen Lungu’s five goals in the tournament saw the Buffaloes forward claim the Golden Boot award, while Double Action picked up the Fair Play prize.
2022 TOTAL ENERGIES COSAFA WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE | COSAFA QUALIFIER STATISTICS
SATURDAY’S RESULTS:
Third-Place Play-Off
Double Action Ladies 3 (Rathari 25’, 68’, Anlaouia 80’og)
Olympique de Moroni 0
Final
Mamelodi Sundowns 0
Green Buffaloes 0 – aet; Buffaloes won 6-5 on pens
FINAL GROUP STANDINGS
| GROUP A | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Mamelodi Sundowns | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Double Action | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Costa do Sol | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 10 | -9 | 0 |
| GROUP B | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Green Buffaloes | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 6 |
| Olympique de Moroni | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 3 |
| Young Buffaloes | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | -5 | 0 |
TOURNAMENT STATS:
Matches Played: 8
Goals scored: 25
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), Obonetse Rathari (Double Action Ladies)
1 – Hadhirami Anlaouia (Olympique de Moroni), Oteng Bonang (Double Action Ladies), 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), Gaonyadiwe Ontlametse (Double Action Ladies)
Own goals – Nadia Farranguana (Costa do Sol), Hadhirami Anlaouia (Olympique de Moroni), Tiisetso Makhubela (Mamelodi Sundowns)
