Green Buffaloes dethrone Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies as Cosafa champions

Green Buffaloes are champions of 2022 Cosafa Women’s Champions League after defeating South Africa and holders Mamelodi Sundowns in the final of the Southern Africa zonal qualifiers on Saturday.

The Zambian team defeated the Cosafa 2021 winners 6-5 on penalties to win the second edition of the Cosafa zonal tournament after a 0-0 draw at regulation time at the sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Durban.

Before the encounter, both clubs already guaranteed a place at the 2022 edition of Caf Women’s Champions League scheduled to take place in Morocco in October, with Sundowns seeking to defend the inaugural championship title won in Egypt last year.

Buffaloes, who exited the tournament at the semi-final stage at the expense of Sundowns reached this year’s final, first with a 4-0 win over Young Bufalloes of Eswatini before a 4-0 triumph over Olympique de Moroni of Comoros.

On the other hand, Sundowns finished top of Group B with four points, with the former securing an 8-1 win over Costa da Sol of Mozambique before playing out a 1-1 draw with Double Action ladies to edge the Botswana champions on goal difference after both finished with the same point.

With Buffaloes and Sundowns failing to find the back of the net after 120 minutes, they required the lottery of penalties, with former ending the continental holders’ unbeaten run from the spot.

On individual accolades, Double Action won the Fair Play Award as Mamelodi Sundowns’ Melinda Kgadiete was named Player of the Tournament, while Green Buffaloes’ Ireen Lungu won the Golden boot just as her teammate Aisha Mbwana clinched the Golden Glove as best goalkeeper of the tournament.

Same day, Sundowns’ Bambanani Mbane won the Player of the Match despite her side’s defeat to Green Buffaloes. Earlier, Double Action thrashed Olympique de Moroni 3-0 to clinch the third place bronze following Rathari’s brace plus Anlaouia’s own goal.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *