Maudy Mufuruse’s 60th minute goal was the difference as the Zambian Champions, Green Buffaloes suffered their first defeat at the 2024 Cosafa Women’s Champions League in Malawi.
Mafuruse headed in a beautiful cross from a left-flank corner-kick at a packed Mpira Stadium in Blantyre to give Herental the lead at the hour mark.
Mafuruse’s second goal of the regional qualifiers saw the coach Lazarus Magaya side leading Group A on six points and needing just a draw against UWC on Monday to guarantee a semifinal place.
Buffaloes’ final group match will be on Monday against Ongos Ladies of Namibia at 12h00 at Mpira Stadium and they need a win to secure a place in the semis.
In the other game in the pool, UWC recovered from Thursday’s 1-0 loss Buffaloes to defeat FC Ongos.
Sibulele Holweni, Fikile Magama and Bongeka Gamede’s 20th, 31st and 56th minute strikes put the South Africans’ semi final qualification bid back on track.
UWC have three points whereas the Namibians remain winless hence out of the last four race going into an academic meeting with Buffaloes on Monday.
The overall winner of the 10-day tournament will book a place at the CAF Women’s Champions League’s continental finals, joining Mamelodi Sundowns who did not participate in the qualifiers as they had already secured their finals’ slot by virtue of being African champions.
SATURDAY’S RESULTS
Group A
Green Buffaloes 0-1 Herentals Queens (Mafuruse 60’)
University of the Western Cape 3 -0 FC Ongos
(Holweni 20’pen, Magama 31′, Gamede 56′)
