Women's African Champions League: Mamelodi to face Hasaacas in final
- Published
Mamelodi Sundowns will face Hasaacas ladies in the Women's African Champions League final
South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns will meet Ghana's Hasaacas Ladies in the first ever Women's African Champions League final on Friday in Egypt.
Hasaacas Ladies had become the first side to reach the final as they beat Morocco's AS FAR 2-1 in Monday's opening semi-final in Cairo.
"We feel great, this is a dream coming true for us," Hasaacas Ladies captain Janet Egyir said after the game.
Later on Monday, Mamelodi Sundowns needed penalties to overcome Malabo Kings from Equatorial Guinea as the second semi-final ended goalless after 120 minutes.
After 90 minutes of stalemate, both sides had chances to win the game in extra-time, with substitute Thalea Smidt hitting the bar with a long-range effort for Sundowns.
With the final action of the game, Bambanani Mbane made a crucial tackle on Bella Rose, who had broken behind the defence and looked set for a one-on-one chance against Sundowns' keeper Andile Dlamini.
Sundowns had the chance to win it with their fifth penalty after Cameroonian defender Salome Nke's effort had hit the post for the Kings but Nigerian keeper Ruth Sunday saved Chantelle Esau's effort.
The game was won on the sixth round of spot-kicks as Bongiwe Thusi scored only for another Cameroonian, Florence Fanta, to fire wide for the Kings and spark the South African side's celebrations.
Badu again
Evelyn Badu secured Hasaacas Ladies' historic passage to the final
In the first of the day's semis at Cairo's Al Salam Stadium on Monday, Hasaacas took the lead after 35 minutes when Doris Boaduwaa rose highest to head down and past AS FAR keeper Khadija Er-Rmichi.
The Moroccans drew level on the stroke of half-time as Najat Badri beautifully volleyed home to convert an excellent cross from Fatima Tagnaout following fine work down the right.
Hasaacas were awarded a penalty in the 59th minute by Rwandan referee Salma Mukansanga after she had been advised to watch replays by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), which African football's ruling body Caf had introduced for both the semi-finals and final.
Mukansanga ruled that Evelyn Badu had been fouled by Er-Rmichi after the keeper failed to properly control a back-pass, but Perpetual Agyekum's spot kick hit the post and she was unable to react quickly enough to convert the rebound.
Hasaacas eventually scored their second in the 76th minute as Boaduwaa turned provider as her long cross was headed home by the stooping Evelyn Badu, as the 19-year-old claimed her fifth goal of the tournament.
"When we missed the penalty, we thought something was wrong with us," Hasaacas Ladies' Egyir, who was named player of the match, told Caf's website.
"But then we pushed through and won. We are looking forward to the final. We are ready."
AS FAR now play Malabo Kings in Thursday's third place play-off.
"We were not lucky today, but I thank the girls for their efforts and we learnt a lot from this tournament," AS FAR coach Abdallah Haidamu said.
"We want to win the third-place medal and not go home empty-handed. We will try and prepare the girls to concentrate on the next match."