Mamelodi Sundown Ladies Crush Ugandan Giant to Reach CAF Final – Star Player Drops Emotional Message

Noxolo Cesane Hails Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies’ Fighting Spirit After Reaching CAF Women’s Champions League Final

Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies attacking midfielder Noxolo Cesane has praised her teammates for their determination, resilience and collective commitment after securing a place in the final of the CAF Women’s Champions League.

The South African side continued their impressive campaign with a convincing semi-final performance against Uganda’s Kawempe Muslim Ladies, demonstrating the quality and mentality required to compete at the highest level of African women’s football.

Cesane believes the victory was a reflection of the team’s determination throughout the competition, emphasising that every match had been approached with the same intensity and importance as a final.

Speaking after the semi-final triumph, the attacking midfielder expressed her satisfaction with the team’s achievement, highlighting the significance of winning such an important encounter.

“I think we’ve done a great job by winning this final out of the finals played, which is [all] the games because each game was a final game for us,” Cesane said.

Her comments underline the mentality that has driven Sundowns Ladies throughout their continental campaign, with the players understanding that there was little room for complacency in a competition featuring some of Africa’s strongest women’s football teams.

Sundowns Ladies delivered an outstanding performance at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia, Egypt, defeating Kawempe Muslim Ladies 4-1 to book their place in the continental final.

Ronnel Donnelly was the standout performer, producing a remarkable first-half hat-trick that put the South African champions firmly in control of the encounter. The forward scored in the 29th, 35th and 37th minutes, leaving the Ugandan representatives with a difficult task.

Cesane then added her name to the scoresheet just before half-time, extending Sundowns’ advantage to four goals and putting the result beyond doubt.

Although Kawempe Muslim Ladies managed to pull one goal back through Latifah Nakasi in the 72nd minute, Sundowns maintained their composure to secure an emphatic victory.

Beyond the goals and attacking quality, Cesane’s comments highlighted the importance of preparation, discipline and determination in reaching the final.

The midfielder explained that the technical team’s instructions were centred on unsettling their opponents, playing forward and attempting to score early to give the team greater control of the contest.

She acknowledged the intensity of the encounter, recognising that both teams were determined to secure a place in the final.

For Sundowns, executing the coach’s instructions proved crucial, particularly during the first half when their attacking movements and clinical finishing created a commanding advantage.

Cesane’s contribution was equally significant, as her goal marked her first in the CAF Women’s Champions League and her seventh across all competitions this season.

With the semi-final hurdle successfully negotiated, Sundowns Ladies will now turn their attention to a highly anticipated final against Moroccan giants AS FAR on Sunday, 15 November 2026.

AS FAR secured their place in the final after defeating Cameroonian representatives Lekié Football Filles 1-0, setting up a meeting between two of Africa’s most accomplished women’s football clubs.

The encounter carries additional significance, with both teams having won the continental competition twice. Victory would make either side the first club to lift the CAF Women’s Champions League trophy three times.

For Sundowns, the final represents an opportunity to reclaim the continental crown and reaffirm their position among Africa’s elite women’s football teams.

Their supporters will undoubtedly be hoping that the determination Cesane described continues into the decisive encounter.

With confidence growing and the final within reach, the South African champions have another opportunity to turn an impressive continental campaign into a historic achievement.

The message from Cesane is clear: Sundowns Ladies have treated every match as a final, and they are determined to make the biggest one count.

Source https://x.com/iDiskiTimes/status/2120909488941154511?a=Qx5yc_I3n89PMgqJDKE&s=19

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