Mamelodi Sundowns and Costa do Sol have qualified for the semifinals of the Caf Women’s Champions League Cosafa Qualifiers 2023 after wins over Young Buffaloes and Olympic de Moroni in group B at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium on Saturday.
Both teams have six points from their first two games and cannot be caught in the first two positions in the group, which translates into semifinal qualification.
Who finishes top of the pool will be decided when they meet in the final group game on Monday.
It was not perfect from Sundowns as the Hollywoodbets Super League champions wasted plenty of chances, especially youngster Miche Minnies in the opening half. However, Lelola Daweti’s hat-trick and Andisiwe Mgcoyi’s goal was enough to seal a 4-0 victory over Young Buffaloes and send them into their third successive semifinal appearance at the tournament.
Daweti now leads the scoring charts at the tournament with those three goals.
Meanwhile, Albertina Pondja again led from the front as she scored a stunning first-half goal, her second of the tournament, to help the Mozambican champions Costa do Sol get their 2-1 victory over Olympic de Moroni.
Neide Maconho later scored the winner, while De Moroni’s consolation came courtesy of Joeline Rima earlier in the second stanza. This is the first time Costa do Sol are in the semifinals in their second appearance at the tournament.
Sunday is rest day in eThekwini, with action resuming on Monday with the deciding group encounters to be played at the Sugar Ray Xulu and the Princess Magogo stadia.