‘So Much Improvement’: Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies’ Quest For Another African Crown
Mamelodi Sundowns were ground-breakers when they won Africa’s first Women’s Champions League five years ago, beating seven other clubs to the inaugural title in a tournament played in Cairo, Egypt. Since then, the Sundowns ladies have won another Champions League title in 2023 and finished up runners-up in 2022 but last year failed to qualify …
Mamelodi Sundowns were ground-breakers when they won Africa’s first Women’s Champions League five years ago, beating seven other clubs to the inaugural title in a tournament played in Cairo, Egypt.
Since then, the Sundowns ladies have won another Champions League title in 2023 and finished up runners-up in 2022 but last year failed to qualify for the tournament.
But they are back in the field for the 2026 edition, which is being played in Egypt for a third time.
There is added incentive this time round, with the winner of the African title advancing to the first-ever Women’s Club World Cup in Miami in January.
“It opens the door for a whole lot of things if you win this, not only the Club World Cup. We’ve seen many players who have competed in the African Champions League go on to be signed by clubs overseas,” Sundowns’ international goalkeeper Andile ‘Sticks’ Dlamini tells FORBES AFRICA.
“This is a competition you want to take part in for many reasons, and one of them is just to be seen by the clubs in Europe and the U.S.”
But she adds it is not going to be an easy assignment in Egypt over the next fortnight.
“There has been a massive improvement in the standard of women’s football, not only on the field but off the fields too in terms of the added incentives for the clubs and players at the Champions League.
“It shows that women’s football is growing and is being taken seriously. There has been so much improvement in how women are treated.”
For the Sundowns’ women, there is also the question of getting one over their male counterparts.
Sundowns’ men side have won two African Champions League titles, as have the ladies, but it is the women who have a real shot at becoming the first to take a third.
“We are working on that third star,” adds Dlamini of the right to wear stars above the club badge on their shirts representing each of their continental triumphs.
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