EN, FR, PR: Sundowns, Zesco get big wins on opening day in Johannesburg
Mamelodi Sundowns and Zesco Ndola Girls recorded big wins on the opening day of the CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifiers as they underlined their potential in Group A and suggested they will be the teams to beat in Johannesburg.
A record ten clubs from around the Southern African region are vying for a single spot in the continental finals later this year, and two-time African champions Sundowns and regional debutants Zesco have made a fine start at the University of Johannesburg’s AW Muller Stadium.
Zesco defeated another side making their maiden appearance, Beauties FC from Namibia, 3-0 as they did all their scoring in the first half.
They were ahead after 21 minutes through captain Avell Chitundu, before a pair of penalties from Penelope Mulubwa and Eneless Phiri gave Zesco the handsome win.
The Zambians will be hoping to match compatriots Green Buffaloes, who lifted the trophy in 2022 when they defeated Sundowns on penalties in the final in Durban.
Sundowns have never lost a fixture outright in the competition and Ntopwa FC of Malawi were no match for the experience of the South Africans, who also won 3-0.
Botswana forward Refilwe Tholakele netted a brace for Sundowns and Nthabiseng Majiya added a second as they were comprehensive winners.
Sundowns and Zesco will clash in a potential group decider on Sunday.
The action continues on Saturday with the opening matches in the three-team Groups B and C.
Last year’s beaten finalists Gaborone United take on Eswatini’s Young Buffaloes in the first match in Group B, which kicks off at 12h00 (10h00 GMT).
Gaborone only lost out on the title last year on penalties and will believe they can turn silver into gold.
The first game in Group C sees Herentals Queens from Zimbabwe clash with Costa do Sol of Mozambique. Both sides have experience of this competition before.
Entrance for fans to all matches will be FREE of charge. If you cannot get to the stadium, you can watch all matches streamed LIVE on FIFA+.
FRIDAY’S RESULTS
Group A
Beauties FC 0 Zesco Ndola Girls 3 (Chitundu 21’ Mulubwa 41’pen, Phiri 45’pen)
Mamelodi Sundowns 3 (Tholakele 15’, 43’, Majiya 54’) Ntopwa FC 0
SATURDAY’S FIXTURES
Group B
Gaborone United vs Young Buffaloes (KO 12h00; 10h00 GMT)
Group C
Herentals Queens vs Costa do Sol (KO 15h00; 13h00 GMT)
GROUP STANDINGS
| GROUP A | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Zesco Ndola Girls (Zambia) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Beauties FC (Namibia) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
| Ntopwa FC (Malawi) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
| GROUP B | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Gaborone United (Botswana) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kick4Life (Lesotho) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Young Buffaloes (Eswatini) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| GROUP C | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Costa do Sol (Mozambique) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Herentals Queens (Zimbabwe) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Olympic de Moroni (Comoros) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 2
Goals scored: 6
Biggest victory: Beauties FC 0 Zesco Ndola Girls 3 (Group A, August 22); Mamelodi Sundowns 3 Ntopwa FC 0 (Group A, August 22)
Most goals in a game: 3 – Beauties FC 0 Zesco Ndola Girls 3 (Group A, August 22); Mamelodi Sundowns 3 Ntopwa FC 0 (Group A, August 22)
GOALSCORERS
2 goals – Refilwe Tholakele (Mamelodi Sundowns)
1 – Avell Chitundu (Zambia), Nthabiseng Majiya (Mamelodi Sundowns), Penelope Mulubwa (Zambia), Eneless Phiri (Zambia)
Mamelodi Sundowns et Zesco Ndola Girls se démarquent
L’édition 2025 de la CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifiers se déroule actuellement au Zimbabwe, attirant l’attention sur le football féminin en Afrique. Les matches de la phase de groupes ont récemment commencé, avec des performances marquantes de plusieurs équipes. Deux équipes sont sorties du lot au cours de la journée inaugurale avec, à chaque fois, une victoire sur le score de 3-0.
Lors de la première journée, Beauties FC a subi une défaite face à Zesco Ndola Girls, qui s’est imposé 3-0. Les buts de Chitundu (21’), Mulubwa (41’) et Phiri (45+1’) ont permis à Zesco de démarrer le tournoi sur une note positive. Dans l’autre match, Mamelodi Sundowns a également gagné, battant Ntopwa FC 3-0 grâce aux réalisations de Tholakele (15’, 43’) et Majiya (54’). Ces résultats témoignent de la force des équipes engagées dans cette compétition.
Le programme du samedi au AJ AW Muller Stadium prévoit un affrontement entre Gaborone United Ladies et Young Buffaloes à 12h, suivi du match entre Herentals Queens et Costa do Sol à 15h. Gaborone, finaliste malheureux de l’édition précédente, espère aller plus loin cette année. De son côté, Young Buffaloes, qui participe pour la quatrième fois consécutive, a montré des signes de progression. Après avoir été éliminés lors des phases de groupes en 2022 et 2023, ils ont atteint les demi-finales l’an dernier, enregistrant leur première victoire dans la compétition avec un écrasant 4-0 contre UD Lichinga, du Mozambique.
Leur parcours en championnat national est remarquable, ayant complété une saison de 24 matches avec 221 buts inscrits et aucun encaissé. Cette puissance offensive, si elle est reproduite sur la scène continentale, pourrait en faire un concurrent redoutable.
Dans le groupe C, Herentals Queens de Zimbabwe et Costa do Sol du Mozambique s’affronteront. Herentals, avec son expérience, espère capitaliser sur son savoir-faire, tandis que Costa do Sol, l’un des clubs les plus connus de son pays, est déterminé à réaliser une percée dans cette compétition.
Au classement actuel, Mamelodi Sundowns et Zesco Ndola Girls occupent les deux premières places avec trois points chacun, ayant remporté leurs premiers matches. Beauties FC et Ntopwa FC, après leurs défaites, chercheront à se rattraper lors des prochains matchs. Le tournoi promet d’être passionnant, avec des équipes prêtes à montrer leur talent et à rivaliser pour le titre tant convoité.
Sundowns e Zesco entram a vencer na corrida à “Champions”
As Eliminatórias Regionais da COSAFA para a Liga dos Campeões de Futebol Feminino da CAF arrancaram esta sexta-feira (22 de Agosto) em Joanesburgo, África do Sul, dando início a uma competição que se prolongará até ao dia 31 do mês corrente e que definirá a equipa representante da região austral na fase final continental. A jornada inaugural trouxe resultados expressivos no Grupo A, confirmando a força das equipas favoritas.
No primeiro jogo, o Zesco Ndola Girls impôs-se ao Beauties FC por 3-0. Avell Chitundu inaugurou o marcador aos 21 minutos, seguida por Mulumbwa, que ampliou de grande penalidade aos 41’. Já no tempo de compensação, E. Phiri também converteu um penálti (45’+), fechando o resultado. Pela sua exibição consistente, Chitundu foi eleita a melhor jogadora da partida.
No segundo encontro, as sul-africanas do Mamelodi Sundowns, actuais campeãs em título, entraram em campo a confirmar o estatuto de favoritas. A equipa derrotou o Ntopwa FC por 3-0, com Refilwe Tholakele em grande destaque ao apontar dois golos (15’ e 43’) e conquistar o prémio de melhor jogadora em campo. Majiya Ronisha, saída do banco, fixou o resultado final aos 54 minutos, garantindo uma entrada convincente na defesa do troféu.
Com estes resultados, a classificação do Grupo A coloca o Mamelodi Sundowns e o Zesco Ndola Girls na liderança com três pontos cada e diferença positiva de três golos. Beauties FC e Ntopwa FC seguem sem pontos, ambos com saldo negativo de três golos. Este cenário antevê uma luta renhida pelo primeiro lugar, decisivo para o acesso às meias-finais.
A competição prossegue este sábado (23) com a estreia do Grupo B, no AW Muller Stadium, também em Joanesburgo. Às 12h00, Gaborone United Ladies FC defronta as Young Buffaloes, e às 15h00 será a vez do Herentals Queens medir forças com o CD Costa do Sol, representante de Moçambique. Apenas os vencedores de cada grupo e o melhor segundo classificado avançam para as meias-finais, agendadas para 29 de Agosto. A final está marcada para 31 de Agosto, definindo a equipa que seguirá para a fase final da Liga dos Campeões da CAF.
A entrada para os jogos é gratuita mediante levantamento de bilhetes no estádio. Para quem não puder assistir ao vivo, os encontros serão transmitidos na plataforma FIFA+ e no canal oficial da COSAFA no YouTube, permitindo aos adeptos acompanhar cada momento desta competição que valoriza e projeta o futebol feminino na região.
