20 November 2021 – The South African Football Association (SAFA) has congratulated Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies team for winning the inaugural CAF Women’s Champions League title after beating Ghana’s Hasaacas Ladies 2-0 in the final played in Cairo, Egypt on Friday.
SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan led the praises for the all-conquering Sundowns side saying the team had made the country proud.
“In the back of our minds, we knew our ladies would do it because from the word go, they looked the most complete side. The national professional league, the Hollywoodbets Super League has done wonders in improving the standard of women football and more is to come.
‘’By finishing the entire tournament without conceding a goal shows the vast difference between our girls and the rest of the continent. They have set the bar and now need to maintain those lofty standards,’’ said SAFA President.
Dr Jordaan said in winning the African title, Sundowns had managed to do what only Spanish giants Barcelona had managed to achieve, that is winning both men and women continental titles.
‘’Women football in South Africa has been growing in leaps and bounds and Banyana Banyana set the tone this year by winning the Aisha Buhari Cup, beating Super Falcons of Nigeria in their backyard.’’
The SAFA President said he would like to thank women football headline sponsors SASOL, Hollywood Bets and the 2010 Legacy Trust which pumped in over R100m towards women football.
Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis added her voice saying she all along knew the Cup was ‘’coming home.”
’Congratulations to Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies for conquering Africa and what a way of achieving it – going all the way without conceding a goal. Take a bow Champions, you are truly history makers,’’ said Ellis.
Banyana Banyana star striker Thembi Kgatlana also added her voice in showering Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies with praise following Friday’s exploits in Cairo.
‘’This is a huge step forward for women football in our country. I watched this match throughout and at the end of the match, I was truly proud to be a South African,’’ said Kgatlana. ‘’Hollywoodbets Super League is proving to be a massive investment and results are there for all to see. It was the Buhari Cup and now this. These are exciting times.’’