22 November 2023 – Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies returned to a heroines’ welcome at OR Tambo International Airport after winning a second CAF Women’s Champions League title in three seasons, this past weekend.
Sundowns Ladies beat Morocco’s SC Casablanca 3-0 in the final at Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Korhogo on Sunday after a brace from top scorer Tholakele Refilwe and a strike from Boitumelo Rabale secured the title for coach Jerry Tshabalala’s side in Cote d’Ivoire.
SAFA NEC member and head of delegation Elizabeth de Koker congratulated the team after blazing a trail in the tournament and winning the title without conceding a single goal.
“I just want to convey a message of congratulations to my team as the head of delegation and say congratulations to Masandawana. They are the top women’s club on the continent,” De Koker said after returning back to South Africa with the team.
“I also want to say thank you, because the South African Football Association (SAFA) is doing well when it comes to development, looking at where Banyana Banyana is today, who are the reigning African women’s champions.”
Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Dr Patrice Motsepe sent a message of congratulations to SAFA President Dr Jordaan in recognition of the advancement of football in South Africa.
“Congratulations to the South African Football Association and the Football Fraternity in South Africa for Mamelodi Sundowns becoming Champions of the African Football League (“AFL”) and the CAF Women’s Champions League in Côte d’Ivoire 2023,” Dr Motsepe said.
“Football in South Africa has made great strides and this is also reflected by Bafana Bafana qualifying for the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire in 2023, and the impressive performances of Banyana
Banyana at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in 2023, and the Club victories that are referred to above.”