Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies head coach Godfrey Sapula is waiting with keen interest to know who his charges will face in the semi-final of the CAF Women’s Champions League COSAFA qualifiers with the last group stage matches being played on Wednesday (27 August 2025).
The Brazilians registered their third victory of the tournament in as many matches to finish on nine points and top of the group – this after they thrashed debutants Beauties FC of Namibia 7-0 in Johannesburg on Tuesday (26 August).
Position two in Group A is occupied by Zambia’s Zesco Ndola Girls who collected six points – three more that the third placed Beauties FC, while Ntopwa FC of Malawi return home without any points after three defeats.
In the last four, the winner of Group B faces the winner of Group C, while the winner of Group A tackles the Best Runners up.
According to the regulations of the competition – the results for the team that finishes bottom in the four-team Group A will not count towards calculation.
Therefore, with Ntopwa ending fourth on the table, they have been removed from the equation – leaving Sundowns Ladies still top of Group A with six points, Zesco on three and Beauties on zero, which makes the identity of the Best Second placed difficult to tell until the last group stage matches.
For Sapula, the tournament has a strong field and any team Banyana ba Style will face will not be easy, but they are ready for battle.
“It’s the semifinals – this is an international tournament, obviously the semifinal is the winners of the groups and the second best, so it’s basically the four strongest teams, we expect to play any strong opponent and I always say we don’t underestimate any opponent,” said Sapula.
“We have to go back and reflect and analyze and prepare the best way possible because we can’t over celebrate today and we’re not there yet we still need to focus and play a strong semifinal that will take us to maybe the final, so for us we are ready for any opponent.”
The avalanche of goals for Banyana ba Style against Beauties FC came from two defenders – Bambanani Mbane, who scored a hattrick (15’, 40, 54’) and was named Player of the Match, as well as captain Lebohang Ramalepe (24’) – something that pleased Sapula. His side has not conceded a goal in three games.
“We spoke to the defenders because we feel that set plays – our centre backs are aerially dominant – we thought the chance for them to score is through set plays. So, we have to know that when we have a corner kick or a lateral free kick it’s a realistic opportunity they need to draw that energy to say we’re not going there to add numbers we are going there aggressively to score,” said Sapula.
“We’re happy that Bamba (Mbane) was able to score goals from that – but she has done that also for Banyana Banyana and not only her, I think all our centre backs have the potential and capacity to say when there’s a set play we can score, hence I’m saying I’m happy about this because we can all take confidence in the belief that all centre backs now there’s pleasure to say we can all score from set plays and we’re really grateful that today it came through for us.”
Karabo Makhurubetshi (74’), Refilwe Tholakele (76’) and youngster Munashe Mugwara (83’) also chipped in with a goal each, with the latter’s goal putting a smile on the face of the head coach.
“We are really pleased also to see a young 16-year-old Munashe scoring, we really believe that she is a true talent – credit to the academic coaches. We always thought we needed to bring these young ones and integrate them once still have the experience of Bamba (Mbane) and Rama (Ramalepe) so that there’s continuity – we can’t wait,” added Sapula.
“Let’s start the process now and we’re really grateful that now it’s these players like Katlego, Jabu – if we can also get an opportunity to give them game time it’s very important for them to progress quickly in terms of their development we’re really pleased today that she (Munashe) was also able to be on the scoresheet.”
The semi-finals will be played on Friday (29 August) with the final scheduled for Sunday (31 August).
By Matlhomola Morake
