Champion League
2024 CAF Women’s Champions League: Edo Queens stun holders Sundowns to seal semi-final spot
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership champions, Edo Queens secured a comeback win to stun holders, Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies 2-1 in the final Group B match of the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League.
Late goals from Emem Peace Essien and Mary Mamudu sealed a comeback win for the West Africa Zone B (WAFU-B) champions.
Melinda Kgadiete broke the deadlock for the South African side with a header in the 24th minute.
The Nigerian side had the chance to equalize from the penalty spot in the second half but captain Chioma Olise’s spot kick was saved by the goalie Andile Dlamini.
With the game slipping away from Edo Queens, Essien equalized in the additional minutes of the second half.
Mamudu scored the winner, which took her team top of the log, setting up a semi-final date with TP Mazembe (Democratic Republic of Congo) on Tuesday.
The win also ended Mamelodi Sundowns Lady’s dominance over Nigerian teams at the tournament as the two-time African Champions bowed out of the competition in the group stage for the first time.
They defeated Rivers Angels 1-0 and Bayelsa Queens 2-1 in 2021 and 2022 respectively.
Jerry Tshabalala’s side has reached the final of the last three editions, including winning the title on two occasions in 2021 and 2023.
Edo Queens and FC Masar, which also edged Commerical Bank of Ethiopia FC 2-1, qualified for the semi-final with seven points apiece.
