EN, FR, PR: Mamelodi Sundowns and Beauties FC record wins on Sunday
Two time champions Mamelodi Sundowns made it two wins from two at the CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifiers with a 1-0 victory over Zesco Ndola Girls in Johannesburg on Sunday.
Earlier in the day Beauties FC defeated Ntopwa FC 3-0 to keep their semifinal hopes alive.
Sundowns scored the only goal of the game through their Lesotho international Boitumelo Rabale as she turned and fired into the back of the net on 19 minutes.
They now have six points from two games and can make sure of a semifinal place with a draw in their final pool game against Beauties FC on Tuesday.
After a goalless first half, Beauties FC produced a strong display after the break as they ran out 3-0 winners over Ntopwa FC.
The star of the show was Millicent Hikuam, who gave her side the lead on 48 minutes with a superb curling free-kick from 25 yards that had the beating of the goalkeeper.
Her second followed a fine flowing move from their own half as Beauties broke down the left-hand side and Hikuam collected the ball in the box, before firing again past the keeper.
That was the way it stayed until the 87th minute when a free-kick was floated into the penalty-area and Twelikondjele Amukoto glanced her header into the net.
The action continues on Monday with the second round of fixtures in Groups B and C.
Young Buffaloes enter their second Group B game against Kick4Life from Lesotho (kick-off 12h00 CAT; 10h00 GMT) under pressure after a narrow 1-0 defeat to Gaborone United in their opener.
The Eswatini side will know that anything less than victory will see them staring at an early exit, given only the group winners are guaranteed a semifinal place.
The best runner-up across the pools also advances to the last 4.
Their issue lies in attack, Buffaloes failed to score in their opening match, and must now find a sharper edge in front of goal if they are to stay alive in the competition.
Kick4Life, meanwhile, make their first appearance of the qualifiers and face the tough task of settling quickly into tournament rhythm. With Gaborone United already on three points, Lesotho’s representatives know that a strong start is vital to keep them in contention.
Avoiding defeat would still leave Kick4Life with a chance going into their second game, but a win would tilt Group B wide open.
This is effectively a must-win clash for Young Buffaloes, while Kick4Life can seize the opportunity to stamp their mark on the group.
Costa do Sol made an ideal start in Group C with a 2-0 victory over Herentals Queens on Saturday and now have the chance to move within touching distance of the semifinals.
Another win would secure top spot in the pool. Their solid defence and ability to take chances in front of goal made the difference in their opener, and they will look to maintain that balance.
Olympic de Moroni begin their campaign knowing they must be sharp from the outset. Facing the group leaders in their first outing is a difficult challenge, but a positive result could instantly transform the dynamics of Group C.
With Herentals already on the back foot, the Comoros side can make themselves contenders with a disciplined display and a result that keeps qualification hopes alive.
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+.
SUNDAY’S RESULTS
Group A
Ntopwa FC 0 Beauties FC 3 (Hikuam 48’, 58’, Amukoto 87’)
Mamelodi Sundowns 1 (Rabale 19’) Zesco Ndola Girls 0
MONDAY’S FIXTURES
Group B
Young Buffaloes vs Kick4Life (KO 12h00; 10h00 GMT)
Group C
Costa do Sol vs Olympic de Moroni (KO 15h00; 13h00 GMT)
GROUP STANDINGS
| GROUP A | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 6 |
| Zesco Ndola Girls (Zambia) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Beauties FC (Namibia) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Ntopwa FC (Malawi) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | -6 | 0 |
| GROUP B | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Gaborone United (Botswana) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Kick4Life (Lesotho) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Young Buffaloes (Eswatini) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| GROUP C | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Costa do Sol (Mozambique) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Olympic de Moroni (Comoros) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Herentals Queens (Zimbabwe) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 6
Goals scored: 13
Biggest victory: Beauties FC 0 Zesco Ndola Girls 3 (Group A, August 22); Mamelodi Sundowns 3 Ntopwa FC 0 (Group A, August 22); Ntopwa FC 0 Beauties FC 3 (Group A, August 24)
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); Ntopwa FC 0 Beauties FC 3 (Group A, August 24)
GOALSCORERS
2 goals – Millicent Hikuam (Beauties FC), Refilwe Tholakele (Mamelodi Sundowns)
1 – Twelikondjele Amukoto (Beauties FC), Avell Chitundu (Zambia), Keitumetse Dithebe (Gaborone United), Eunencia Machava (Mozambique), Nthabiseng Majiya (Mamelodi Sundowns), Lucia Moçambique (Costa do Sol), Penelope Mulubwa (Zambia), Eneless Phiri (Zambia), Boitumelo Rabale (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Beauties FC brille, les Sundowns dominent le groupe A
Les équipes du groupe A se sont affrontées dimanche au cours de la troisième journée de la CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifiers. Les Mamelodi Sundowns ont brillé, s’assurant une place au prochain tour avec une deuxième victoire consécutive. Dans l’autre match, Beauties FC s’est baladé devant Ntopwa FC (3-0).
Le spectacle a débuté avec le match entre Ntopwa FC et Beauties FC. Les Beauties ont dominé la rencontre, s’imposant 3-0 grâce à une performance remarquable de Hikuam, auteur de deux buts à la 48e et 58e minute, et d’Amukoto qui a scellé le score à la 87e minute. Ce succès permet à Beauties FC de rester en course, bien qu’ils aient un chemin difficile devant eux.
Dans le second match de la journée, les Mamelodi Sundowns ont affronté les Zesco Ndola Girls. L’unique but de la rencontre a été inscrit par Rabale à la 19e minute, permettant aux Sundowns de conserver leur invincibilité dans ce tournoi. Avec cette victoire, les Sundowns affichent un impressionnant bilan de 4 buts marqués et aucun encaissé, témoignant de leur solidité défensive et de leur potentiel offensif.
Le classement du groupe A après les matchs de dimanche montre les Mamelodi Sundowns en tête avec 6 points, suivis des Zesco Ndola Girls et Beauties FC, qui comptent 3 points chacun. Ntopwa FC, quant à elle, n’a pas réussi à récolter le moindre point et se retrouve en dernière position.
Les équipes du groupe B entreront en lice lundi au AJ AW Muller Stadium. Les Young Buffaloes affronteront Kick4Life Women à 12h, suivis par le match entre Costa do Sol et Olympic de Moroni à 15h. Les attentes sont élevées et chaque rencontre pourrait changer la dynamique du tournoi.
En somme, les Mamelodi Sundowns se positionnent comme des contenders sérieux pour le titre, mais la compétition est loin d’être terminée. Les équipes restantes auront l’occasion de se battre pour leur place dans cette prestigieuse compétition.
Beauties renascem, Sundowns confirma liderança
As Eliminatórias Regionais da COSAFA para a Liga dos Campeões Feminina da CAF conheceram este domingo, 24 de Agosto, mais uma jornada intensa, com dois jogos a movimentarem o Grupo A no AW Muller Stadium. A grande surpresa veio do Beauties FC, da Namíbia, que reagiu à derrota inaugural e venceu o Ntopwa FC, do Malawi, por 2-0, graças ao bis de Millicent Hikuam.
Depois de uma primeira parte equilibrada, a médio namibiana abriu o marcador aos 47 minutos, com um livre direto colocado, e voltou a marcar aos 58’, coroando uma exibição individual de luxo. Com este resultado, o Beauties soma três pontos e relança a luta pela qualificação, enquanto o Ntopwa acumula a segunda derrota consecutiva, ficando praticamente fora das contas para as meias-finais.
No segundo jogo do dia, as campeãs em título, Mamelodi Sundowns, confirmaram o favoritismo e venceram as Zesco Ndola Girls por 1-0, com golo solitário de Boitumelo Rabale aos 19 minutos. As sul-africanas controlaram a partida e asseguraram a liderança isolada do grupo, com seis pontos em dois jogos, ficando muito próximas da qualificação direta.
A equipa zambiana, por sua vez, mantém-se com três pontos e vai discutir com o Beauties, na última jornada, a possibilidade de garantir a segunda posição e sonhar com a vaga reservada ao melhor segundo classificado. Já o Ntopwa, sem pontos, precisa de um milagre para evitar a eliminação.
Com estes resultados, a classificação do Grupo A apresenta as Mamelodi Sundowns no topo com seis pontos, seguidas pelo Beauties e Zesco Ndola, ambos com três pontos, e pelo Ntopwa no último lugar, ainda a zeros. O cenário aponta para Sundowns nas meias-finais, marcadas para 29 de agosto, enquanto Beauties e Zesco protagonizarão um duelo decisivo pela sobrevivência. A final está agendada para 31 do mesmo mês, no AW Muller Stadium.
A competição continua esta segunda-feira, 25 de Agosto, com jogos decisivos nos Grupos B e C. Às 12h00, os Young Buffaloes, de Eswatini, enfrentam as Kick4Life Women FC, do Lesoto, num encontro em que as eswatini procuram confirmar o bom arranque, enquanto as adversárias entram obrigadas a vencer.
Às 15h00, o Costa do Sol, de Moçambique, mede forças com o Olympic de Moroni, das Comores, prometendo um duelo interessante entre experiência e ambição. Com apenas os líderes de cada grupo e o melhor segundo classificado a seguirem para as meias-finais, cada jogo ganha contornos de final.
Todos os encontros têm entrada gratuita, mediante levantamento de bilhetes no estádio, e são transmitidos em direto na plataforma FIFA+ e no canal oficial da COSAFA no YouTube, reforçando o compromisso com a promoção do futebol feminino africano.
