Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies have been dethroned as African champions after suffering a 4-0 defeat at the hands of ASFAR Club in the final at Stade Moulay Abdellah in Rabat on Sunday evening.
However, Sundowns Ladies had to play the majority of the second edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League with 9 players, as two of their stars were shown red cards.
This was Sundowns Ladies first defeat in the Champions League after nine matches.
Sundowns Ladies went into the final as favourites, having won the inaugural edition of the tournament.
In addition, they easily reached the final, scoring 12 goals and conceding only once in four matches.
ASFAR, who won all four games on the way to the final, proved to be a tough test for Sundowns.
TWO RED CARDS FOR DOWNS LADIES
With Rhoda Mulaudzi and Zanele Nhlapho sent off, the odds were always odds stacked against Sundowns Ladies.
The home nation ASFAR became the first Moroccan side to win the Women’s Champions League
Ibtissam Jraidi was the star of the night as she was all over the Sundowns defence, netting a hat trick.
And with six goals to her name, Jraidi was awarded the 2022 Women’s Champions League Golden Boot award.
ASFAR opened the scoring in the 16th minute via a penalty converted by Fatima Tagnaout.
Tagnaout walked away with the Best Player of the Tournament award.
Things went from bad to worse for Sundowns Ladies as Mulauzi was sent off for an early shower just after the half-hour mark.
The Tshwane giants went into the break a player and a goal down.
Six minutes into the second half, Sundowns Ladies were reduced to 9 players as captain Nhlapo was shown a second yellow card after a poor challenge on the edge of the box.
It didn’t take long for ASFAR to capitalise as they made it 2-0 a few minutes later through Jraidi.
But, Jerry Tshabalala’s troops didn’t want to go down without a fight as they kept on pushing for goals and threatened ASFAR’s goal with 9 players but failed to convert the created chances.
ASFAR hit Downs Ladies on a counter and scored the third goal through Jraidi in the 88th minute.
Jraidi completed her brace in added time to cap off a great performance by the hosts.
