Sundowns, Double Action to play in the final as Buffaloes suffer defeat

Double Action Ladies will play Mamelodi Sundowns in a mouth-watering final of the CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifiers 2023 on Friday after both won their semifinal clashes at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium on Wednesday.

Double Action captain Gaonyadiwe Ontlametse scored a goal in each half to help her side make history by claiming their first final appearance at the regional tournament with a 2-0 win over Costa do Sol from Mozambique. 

Philimon Makwengwe’s charges have twice before reached the knockout stage in 2021 and 2022, but failed in the semifinals and have now given themselves a shot at international glory with their progression to the decider. 

The winner of this year’s competition will represent the COSAFA region at the CAF Women’s Champions League finals in Ivory Coast in November. The brace also sees Ontlametse joining the battle of the top goal scorers at this year’s event as she sits on three goals ahead of the final. 

The second semifinal between Sundowns and defending champions Green Buffaloes of Zambia was a repeat of last year’s deciding match and got off to a hot start with Boitumelo Rabale almost opening the scoring in the opening three minutes but was denied by the wood work. 

Soon after the defending champions broke the deadlock with beautiful strike from Maylan Mulenga, a lead they enjoyed for 20 minutes until Sundowns found the equaliser through their captain Zanele Nhlapho. 

Winger Chuene Morifi, who has been involved in 80% of the goal creation for Sundowns this tournament, scored her second goal of the qualifiers in the second half, while the third came from a Tiisetso Makhubela penalty late in the game.

Makhubela joins Ontlametse on three goals in the competition and top of the scorers charts, where they are joined by Lelona Daweti and Andisiwe Mgcoyi (both Mamelodi Sundowns), and Lesego Radiakanyo (Double Action).

Wednesday’s losing teams, Costa do Sol and Green Buffaloes, will vie for third place and the bronze medal as a curtain-raiser to Friday’s decider.

Entrance for fans to all matches will be FREE of charge, with tickets available at the stadium on match day. They are limited to four per person. You can view all of the fixtures here.
If you cannot get to the stadium, you can watch all matches streamed LIVE on FIFA+. Games will also be carried on SuperSport.

WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS

Semifinals
Double Action Ladies 2 (Ontlametse 8′, 90′) Costa do Sol 0

Mamelodi Sundowns 3 (Nhlapho 32′, Morifi 60′,  Makhubela 81’pen) Green Buffaloes 1 (Mulenga 11′)

FRIDAY’S FIXTURES

Third-Place Play-Off
Costa do Sol vs Green Buffaloes (KO 12h00; 10h00 GMT) 

Final

Double Action Ladies vs Mamelodi Sundowns (KO 15h00; 13h00 GMT)

TOURNAMENT STATS

Matches Played: 14

Goals scored: 47

Biggest victory: Mamelodi Sundowns 8 Olympic de Moroni 0 (Group B, August 31)

Most goals in a game: 8 – Mamelodi Sundowns 8 Olympic de Moroni 0 (Group B, August 31)

GOALSCORERS

3 goals – Lelona Daweti (Mamelodi Sundowns), Tiisetso Makhubela (Mamelodi Sundowns), Andisiwe Mgcoyi (Mamelodi Sundowns), Gaonyadiwe Ontlametse (Double Action), Lesego Radiakanyo (Double Action)

2 – Miche Minnies (Mamelodi Sundowns), Chuene Morifi (Mamelodi Sundowns), Tenanile Ngcamphalala (Young Buffaloes), Zanele Nhlapho (Mamelodi Sundowns), Albertina Pondja (Costa do Sol), Joeline Rima (Olympic de Moroni)

1 – Esther Banda (Green Buffaloes), Oteng Bonang (Double Action), Vanessa Chikupila (Ntopwa FC), Maweta Chilenga (Green Buffaloes), Nothando Dlamini (Young Buffaloes), Mazwi Dube (Young Buffaloes), Marlene Janeiro (Costa do Sol), Gabonnelwe Kekana (Mamelodi Sundowns), Naide Maconho (Costa do Sol), Siomala Mapepa (Green Buffaloes), Maseriti Mohlolo (Lesotho Defence Force), Amanda Mthandi (Mamelodi Sundowns), Maylan Mulenga (Green Buffaloes), Boitumelo Rabale (Mamelodi Sundowns), Marie Rasoanandrasana (Olympic de Moroni), Aimee Razanampiavy (Olympic de Moroni), Leungo Senwelo (Double Action), Refilwe Tholakele (Mamelodi Sundowns) 

Own goals – Ntsatsi Khakanyo (Lesotho Defence Force), Memory Nthala (Green Buffaloes)