* Beat Zambia’s ZESCO Ndola Girls 2-1 in the final from two goals scored by Golden Boot winner Refilwe Tholakele
* It was a tight final and more heartbreak for ZESCO, who lost the decider for the second year in a row
Maravi Express
South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns defeated ZESCO Ndola Girls 2-1 of Zambia to win the CAF Women’s Champions League-COSAFA Qualifier title for the third time.
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They thus booked their place at the continental finals from two goals scored by Golden Boot winner Refilwe Tholakele, one from the penalty spot, as Sundowns added to their 2021 and 2023 regional titles — on both of those previous occasions, they went on to win the continental crown.
It was a tight final and more heartbreak for ZESCO Ndola, who lost the decider for the second year in a row, having gone down on penalties to Gaborone United in 2025.
Charity Mubanga had levelled for ZESCO on the stroke of halftime, but when Sundowns were awarded a penalty in the second half, Tholakele made no mistake from the spot.
ZESCO Ndola had been hoping to make a first appearance at the continental finals, which will be played later this year.
Sundowns went through the competition unbeaten, scoring 22 goals and conceding only twice in their five matches, underlining their dominance on their return to the regional summit.
Earlier, hosts Gaborone United finished third after thumping Malawi’s Silver Strikers Ladies 4-0 in the bronze-medal match.
Maungo Maponga and Yaone Modise scored a brace each, though it took the hosts an hour to break the deadlock.
Sundowns full-back Karabo Dhlamini won the Player of the Tournament prize, to go with Tholakele’s Golden Boot award, who scored 7 goals.
Coming behind her is ZESCO Ndola’s Charity Mubanga with 5 goals followed by four from Silver Ladies’ Carolyne Mathyola and Costa do Sol’s Lucia Moçambique.
Carolyne Mathyola
Silver’s Grace Kakangula came back with two goals while Gladys Banda and Malawi international Ireen Khumalo scored one apiece.
Sundowns made it a clean sweep of the individual prizes as Andile Dlamini took home the Golden Glove award for best goalkeeper — as ZESCO Ndola Girls won the Fair Play award.—Editing by Duncan Mlanjira; Maravi Express
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