EN, FR, PR: Sundowns close in on semi-finals with Silver Strikers win

Two-time African champions Mamelodi Sundowns put one foot in the semi-finals of the CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifier Botswana 2026 with a 3-0 victory over Silver Strikers of Malawi in their Group B clash at the Gaborone United Stadium on Sunday.

Sundowns top the pool with six points from their two games, while Costa do Sol’s 3-1 victory over Nsingizini Hotspurs of Eswatini in the other match keeps the Mozambican side in the hunt.

Silver Strikers also have three points and are ahead of Costa do Sol on their head-to-head record, with Hotspurs yet to get off the mark but not mathematically out of the running. The top two teams in each pool advance to the semi-finals.

Sundowns’ victory came via two spectacular goals from Karabo Dhlamini, the first a brilliant strike from 30 yards and the second a superb free-kick.

Isabella Ludwig’s header in the second half made it 3-0 as the 2021 and 2023 African champions eased to victory.

Costa do Sol claimed their win thanks to a brace from Lucia Moçambique and a third goal via Nadia Farranguana.

Lucia Gaonwe scored the first goal in the competition for Hotspurs, but it was not enough as they suffered a second defeat on their tournament debut.

Hotspurs must claim a sufficiently large win over Silver Strikers on Tuesday and hope Sundowns beat Costa do Sol to leave all three sides on three points, with the relevant tiebreak criteria then deciding who advances.

Sundowns need only avoid defeat against Costa do Sol to guarantee their place in the semi-finals. The only scenario in which they could fail to advance is if they lose to the Mozambicans and Silver Strikers defeat Hotspurs, leaving three teams on six points and the tiebreak criteria to separate them.

Monday preview
The tournament continues at the Gaborone United Stadium on Monday with the final round of matches in Group A, where ZESCO Ndola Girls and defending champions Gaborone United have already sealed their semi-final places.

Herentals Queens of Zimbabwe face Lesotho Defence Force at 16h00 local time (14h00 GMT), with both sides already out of contention for the semi-finals but looking to finish their campaigns on a high.

Herentals have shown themselves to be competitive at this level, while Lesotho Defence Force will be seeking a strong finish on their return to the regional qualifier.

The focus then switches to the battle for top spot when hosts Gaborone United meet ZESCO at 19h00 local time (17h00 GMT).

Both teams have six points from their opening two matches, but ZESCO have the superior goal difference, meaning a draw will be enough for the Zambian side to finish top of the pool. That could potentially allow them to avoid Sundowns in the semi-finals, while Gaborone United must win to take first place.

The clash is also a repeat of last year’s final, when Gaborone United edged ZESCO on penalties to claim the regional title, adding another layer of intrigue to Monday’s contest.

All games will be streamed live on FIFA+ and COSAFA’s YouTube Channel to a global audience.

SUNDAY’S RESULTS
Group B
Nsingizini Hotspurs 1 (Gaonwe 21′) Costa do Sol 3 (Moçambique 8′, 19′, Farranguana 40′)

Mamelodi Sundowns 3 (Dhlamini 11’, 19’, Ludwig 51’) Silver Strikers 0

MONDAY’S FIXTURES (both Gaborone United Stadium)
Group A
Herentals Queens vs Lesotho Defence Force (KO 16h00; 14h00 GMT)

Gaborone United vs ZESCO Ndola Girls (KO 19h00; 17h00 GMT)

GROUP STANDINGS

* Silver Strikers lead Costa do Sol on head-to-head.

TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 8
Goals scored: 30
Biggest victory: Mamelodi Sundowns 8 Nsingizini Hotspurs 0 (Group B, August 21)
Most goals in a game: 8 – Mamelodi Sundowns 8 Nsingizini Hotspurs 0 (Group B, August 21)

GOALSCORERS
3 goals – Lelona Daweti (Mamelodi Sundowns), Lucia Moçambique (Costa do Sol), Eneless Phiri (ZESCO Ndola Girls), Refilwe Tholakele (Mamelodi Sundowns)
2 – Karabo Dhlamini (Mamelodi Sundowns), Isabella Ludwig (Mamelodi Sundowns), Charity Mubanga (ZESCO Ndola Girls)
1 – Natasha Benza (Herentals Queens), Nadia Farranguana (Costa do Sol), Lucia Gaonwe (Nsingizini Hotspurs), Catherine Gwangwara (Herentals Queens), Grace Kakangula (Silver Strikers), Ireen Khumalo (Silver Strikers), Sandra Mugwara (Mamelodi Sundowns), Penelope Mulubwa (ZESCO Ndola Girls), Gaonyadiwe Ontlametse (Gaborone United Ladies), Tlamelo Pheresi (Lesotho Defence Force), Lesego Radiakanyo (Gaborone United Ladies), Goitsemang Tlamma (Gaborone United Ladies)

Mamelodi Sundowns déroule
La CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifier bat son plein, offrant un spectacle de haute intensité. Après huit matchs disputés, la compétition brille par son efficacité offensive avec déjà 30 buts inscrits, soit une moyenne remarquable de près de quatre buts par rencontre.

Lors des rencontres disputées ce dimanche, les favorites sud-africaines de Mamelodi Sundowns ont poursuivi leur sans-faute en dominant les Silver Strikers du Malawi sur le score de 3-0. Un doublé rapide de Karabo (10e et 19e) et une réalisation d’Isabella Ludwig à l’heure de jeu ont scellé la victoire. Dans l’autre match du jour, le club mozambicain du Costa do Sol a décroché ses premiers points en battant Nsingizini Hotspurs par 3 buts à 1. Leila a brillé avec un doublé précoce (8e et 19e), imitée par Nadia (40e), tandis que Gaonwe (20e) a sauvé l’honneur pour l’équipe d’Eswatini.

Au classement du Groupe B, Mamelodi Sundowns trône en tête avec six points et une différence de buts impressionnante de +11. Cette domination s’est notamment illustrée lors de la première journée par le plus large succès du tournoi, un cinglant 8-0 infligé à Nsingizini Hotspurs. Derrière, les Silver Strikers et le Costa do Sol se partagent la deuxième place avec trois points chacun.

Dans le Groupe A, la bataille fait rage au sommet. ZESCO Ndola Girls de Zambie occupe la première place grâce à une meilleure différence de buts (+4), à égalité de points (6) avec les locales de Gaborone United (+2). Le Lesotho Defence Force et les Herentals Queens du Zimbabwe ferment la marche avec deux défaites. Le classement des buteuses reste très disputé. Lelona Daweti et Refilwe Tholakele de Sundowns, ainsi qu’Eneless Phiri de ZESCO, mènent la danse avec trois réalisations chacune.

Le programme du lundi s’annonce décisif au Gaborone United Stadium pour la conclusion du Groupe A. À 16h, les Herentals Queens affronteront le Lesotho Defence Force pour l’honneur. Enfin, le choc de 19h opposera Gaborone United aux ZESCO Ndola Girls pour une finale explosive qui déterminera la première place du groupe.

Sundowns carimba primeiro lugar e Costa do Sol renasce!
Hoje, a segunda jornada do Grupo B das Eliminatórias Regionais da COSAFA para a
Liga dos Campeões Feminina da CAF trouxe cenários distintos e deixou o
apuramento praticamente definido. O Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies selou a liderança
com uma vitória controlada e está a um pé das “meias”, enquanto o Costa do Sol
reencontrou o caminho dos triunfos num duelo de conhecidas.

No primeiro encontro do dia, o Costa do Sol entrou em campo determinado a apagar
a imagem deixada na estreia. Aos oito minutos, Leila Moçambique, autora do golo
na jornada inaugural, voltou a ser decisiva e inaugurou o marcador. Aos 19, a
experiente avançada ampliou com um remate cirúrgico de pé esquerdo, colocando a
bola no segundo poste sem hipóteses para a guarda-redes Nomoilo Dlamini. O
Nsingizini Hotspurs reagiu de imediato, com Lucia Gaonwe a reduzir aos 20, num
contra-ataque bem conseguido. Contudo, ainda antes do intervalo, Nádia dilatou
para 1-3 com um golaço, selando uma primeira parte de claro domínio canarinho. Na
segunda etapa, as eswatinienses pressionaram, mas a história já estava escrita. Vale
lembrar que estes conjuntos haviam defrontado-se meses antes em jogo de
preparação para o torneio, o que tornou o triunfo moçambicano ainda mais
significativo. Leila Moçambique foi eleita melhor em campo.

No segundo jogo, o Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies não deram tréguas ao Silver Strikers.
Aos 10 minutos, a central Karabo Dhlamini inaugurou o marcador com um remate
forte que deixou Ireen Sibande sem reação. Oito minutos depois, a mesma jogadora
voltou a ser feliz num livre directo combinado com Noxolo Cesane, colocando a bola
no ângulo mais difícil e ampliando para 2-0. Ao intervalo, a questão estava
praticamente resolvida. Na segunda parte, aos 60 minutos, Isabella Ludwig, num
canto cobrado por Noxolo, subiu mais alto e fixou o 3-0 de cabeça. Uma exibição de
autoridade das bicampeãs do torneio, com Karabo Dhlamini a levar o prémio de
melhor jogadora.

Com estes resultados, o Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies isolam-se na liderança com seis
pontos e saldo de dez golos, garantindo o primeiro lugar do grupo. Atrás, Silver
Strikers e Costa do Sol empacaram com três pontos cada, mas o desempate pelo
confronto directo favorece as malauianas, que venceram o encontro particular por
2-1 na jornada inaugural. O Nsingizini Hotspurs fecha a tabela sem pontos e com
saldo negativo de dez golos. A última ronda do Grupo B dirá apenas se o Costa do Sol
consegue ultrapassar o Silver Strikers no saldo de golos caso as malauianas percam e
os moçambicanos vençam, mas o confronto directo coloca as Strikers em vantagem.

A atenção desloca-se agora para o Grupo A, que nesta segunda-feira, 24 de Agosto,
define a ordem dos dois primeiros. Às 16h00, no GU Stadium, o Herentals Queens
defronta o LDF Ladies num jogo de honra para ambas, já fora da corrida ao
apuramento. Às 19h00, no mesmo palco, o Gaborone United e o ZESCO Ndola Girls
medem forças no duelo que decidirá quem fecha a fase de grupos no primeiro lugar,
com implicações directas no cruzamento das meias-finais. O torneio, que decorre até
ao próximo dia 29 de Agosto no Botswana, prossegue com transmissão em directo
na plataforma FIFA+ e no canal de YouTube da COSAFA.

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