In a dramatic twist of events in Casablanca on Saturday, Edo Queens crushed Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies’ hopes of defending their CAF Women’s Champions League title with a come-from-behind 2-1 victory to not only secure their place in the semi-finals but eliminate the defending champions. 

After a 24th-minute goal by Melinda Kgadiete thanks to a Karabo Dlamini assist, Sundowns held the slender lead until the dying moments of the match before Emem Essien’s equaliser in the referee’s added time saw the South African’s title hopes dashed. 

With Queens needing a victory, the late strike was enough to see them through. 

The nail was officially hammered in the defending champions’ coffin after Mary Mamudu pounced on some questionable defending from a set piece to fire the Nigerians into the lead and seal an unforgettable victory over the defending champions in the last seconds of added time. 

In a simultaneous Group B fixture on Saturday, fellow debutants FC Masar also registered a victory over Central Bank of Ethiopia in their final group match to successfully book their place in the semi-finals.

The Egyptians’ fairy tale run continues in the CAF Women’s Champions League, with a historic berth into the semi-finals that will see them remain in contention for a dream continental title. 

After a nervy start, the Egyptians grabbed the all-important lead through Sandrine Niyonkuru in the 24^th minute ahead of the break.

With victory well in sight, Masar extended their lead towards the closing minutes thanks to Yassmine Zezo’s 85^th minute strike that sealed the victory for the academy side.

CBE did find a consolation goal in referee’s added time with Senaf Wakuma finding the back of the net in the dying seconds of the match.

With tournament hosts, AS FAR as well as TP Mazembe both securing their places on Friday, Queens and Masar’s respective victories officially marks the battle lines for the semi-finals of the competition set to take place on Tuesday, 19 November.  

Edo Queens will kick off the semi-finals in the earlier fixture when they face off against TP Mazembe, before a North African battle between hosts, AS FAR and FC Masar concludes the semi-finals to decide the last two standing teams of the competition.

CAF Women’s Champions League Semi-Final Fixtures

16h00 | Edo Queens vs TP Mazembe

19h00 | AS FAR vs FC Masar

What a dramatic turnaround! From homeward bound to title bound. That was the Cinderella tale of debutants, Edo Queens who dethroned reigning champions, Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa after coming back from a goal down and penalty kick miss to win 2-1.

At the dot of 90 minutes, it looked like the Edo Queens were out. Then, there were six minutes of additional time. By the fourth minute of the added time, Mamelodi Sundowns were already playing for time, trying to wind down the clock. They even attempted further substitutions.

Then came a turnaround. Edo Queens who had missed many scoring chances including a second-half penalty miss suddenly woke up and levelled up from a goal-mouth melee.

Emem Peace scored to cancel the earlier 24th-minute goal by Melinda Kgadiete for the South Africans. With the wild celebrations attending the goal, an additional five minutes were added by the referee.

The South Africans would have wished that did not happen. At 90+11th minute, Mary Mamudu scored the winner for the Edo Queens who just required a draw to qualify.

But the win ensured they led the group and will avoid playing against hosts and former champions, AS FAR of Morocco in Tuesday’s semi-final match. .

Edo Queens, the first Nigerian side to cross the group stage will now play against TP Mazembe of DR Congo on Tuesday.

This will be the first meeting between the teams.

This game is Mamelodi Sundowns’ third match against Nigerian opponents at the finals.

Sundowns’ record against teams from Nigeria at the finals reads P2 W2.

Sundowns first faced Nigerian opponents Rivers Angels in their second group game in 2021 they won 1-0, they then defeated Bayelsa Queens 2-1 in their opening game in 2022,

Sundowns overall are facing West African opposition at the finals for a fifth time, they have won all four previous meetings against teams from the WAFU region.

In games between teams from the WAFU and COSAFA region at the finals teams from COSAFA have won all six previous clashes.

EDO Queens are the 15^th different club that Sundowns will be facing at the finals.

Edo Queens

·      Will progress to the semi-finals should they draw.

·      Should they progress, they will become the second Nigerian club along with Bayelsa Queens in 2022 to reach the knockout rounds.

·      Should they avoid defeat, Edo Queens will be the first Nigerian club to progress without losing a single game at the finals.

·      Previously in their final group games at the finals Nigerian teams have always won. Rivers Angels faced Kenyan side Vihiga Queens in their final game in 2021 and despite a 4-0 win could not progress.

·      In their final group game in 2022 Bayelsa Queens won 3-0 against Wadi Degla of Egypt, to reach the last four. They lost their first game against Sundowns but subsequent wins over TP Mazembe and Wadi Degla saw them progress.

·      Edo Queens are yet to concede a goal in the current edition of the finals. They are the first Nigerian club to not concede a goal in their opening two games at the finals. No Nigerian club has gone through an entire group stage without conceding a goal.

·      Edo Queens are the first Nigerian club at the finals to avoid defeat inside their first two games.

·      Edo Queens goalkeeper Omini Oyono has faced the fewest shots in the tournament and has also had to make just one save.

·      Edo Queens’ Esther Moses has created six chances at the finals so far the second most by any player thus far.

Mamelodi Sundowns

·      The defending champions bounced back after losing their opening game against FC Masar to defeat CBE of Ethiopia 4-0 in their second game.

·      Melinda Kgadiete scored in the win over CBE, netting a brace taking her tally at the finals to six goals for Sundowns.

·      Kgadiete’s goal against CBE meant she is the first player to score at four editions of the finals.

·      Kgadiete is now Sundowns’ all-time top scorer at the finals overtaking Refilwe Tholakele who scored five at the 2022 edition.

·      Kgadiete had three goal involvements in the game against CBE scoring two goals and making one assist. She scored with both her shots on target in the game.

·      Lelona Daweti was also on the score sheet for Sundowns taking her tally to five goals at the finals, along with the four she scored in 2022.

·      Daweti has created eight chances at the finals the most of any player at the current edition.

·      Boitumelo Rabale another of Sundowns goal scorers against CBE scored her third goal at the finals for Sundowns, she had previously scored two in 2022.

·      Sundowns scored four goals in the first half of their win over CBE it was the first time they scored four goals in the opening half of a game at the finals.

·      Should Sundowns not progress they would exit at the group stage for the first time.

·      Should Sundowns exit at this stage they would be the first defending champion to exit at the group stage, in 2022 they reached the final and in 2023 AS FAR got to the Semi-finals.

·      Sundowns have never lost their final group game at the finals. The only time they failed to win was in a 0-0 draw against AS FAR in 2021.  They had already qualified for the finals. In 2022 they won their final group game 4-0 against TP Mazembe, in 2023 their last group game yielded a 3-0 win over Athletico Abidjan.

·      With their win over CBE, Sundowns record in 11 group games at the finals reads W9 D1 L1.

·      Sundowns will be the first team to win 10 group games at the finals should they win this game.