Staff Reporter.
Mamelodi Sundowns are on the brink of a semifinal place at the inaugural CAF Women’s Champions League following a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Nigerian side Rivers Angels in Cairo on Tuesday.
Captain Zanele Nhlapo scored the only goal on 16 minutes, after which Sundowns had to weather a storm as the Nigerian champions mounted wave after wave of attacks.
“It was a very tough game for us, we tried to play our football, but it was very difficult. I’m not completely happy with the performance, as we couldn’t score more,”Sundowns coach Jerry Tshabalala said.
The team need just a point in their final Group B game against Moroccan side AS FAR on Friday to ensure top spot in the pool, while they will advance even in defeat if Vihiga Queens don’t beat Angels.
“I’ve seen AS FAR more than once, it will be an open game as they like to play in a way similar to us. They will be very dangerous. Anything can happen in football, so we have to be cautious,” Tshabalala said.
Earlier on Tuesday, Vihiga Queens recorded their first victory of the tournament against AS FAR.
Violet Wanyonyi bundled in a rebound in the eighth minute for the Kenyans, and a freak goal made it 2-0 six minutes into the second half as an attempted clearance looped in off the shin of Jentrix Shikangwa.
The Queens play Rivers Angels in their final group match on Friday, while Mamelodi Sundowns – who have one foot in the semi-finals – take on AS FAR.
We are not the team that plays defensively, we will not set back, we will attack. We have to keep possession as much as we can.”
On Monday, Ghanaians Hasaacas Ladies moved to the brink of a semi-final spot by recording their second victory in Group A, beating AS Mande 3-0.
Evelyn Badu impressed again with another two-goal haul before Perpetual Agyekum rounded off the scoring against the Malians, who have lost both their group games.
Meanwhile Malabo Kings kept their hopes of a last four spot alive with a 3-0 win over hosts Wadi Degla.
Drepoba Gbogou struck twice before the break for the Equatoguineans and Grace Mfwamba added a third in the second half for the Kings, who join Wadi Degla on three points.
The Egyptians face Hasaacas Ladies in the final round of group games on Thursday and Malabo Kings round off their fixtures against AS Mande.