Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies are the 2026 COSAFA Women’s Champions League Qualifier Champions, completing a dominant campaign in Botswana with a 2-1 victory over Zambia’s ZESCO Ndola Girls in the final at Gaborone United Stadium.
The Brazilians once again produced when it mattered most, securing the title and booking their place in the CAF Women’s Champions League after another memorable performance on the Continental stage.
Sundowns made the perfect start to the final, with Refilwe Tholakele opening the scoring as early as the 1st minute. The red-hot striker wasted no time making her mark, giving Banyana Ba Style an early advantage and setting the tone for what would become another disciplined performance from the Brazilians.
Tholakele then struck again in the 63rd minute, completing her brace and putting Banyana Ba Style firmly in control of the contest. Her two goals proved decisive as the Brazilians maintained their composure and managed the game with the maturity and determination that have become synonymous with the team.
The victory caps an impressive COSAFA campaign for Masandawana, who have once again demonstrated their strength, consistency and ambition in the region.
The triumph is particularly significant after last year’s disappointment, when Sundowns were eliminated by ZESCO Ndola Girls in the semifinal. Returning to Botswana with that experience in mind, the Brazilians showed how much they had learned, going one step further this time to lift the trophy for the third time.
For Lehlogonolo Mashigo, the victory represents the reward for the hard work the team has put in.
“Now we are back where we belong. We worked really hard for this and qualifying was one of our biggest goals coming into the tournament. We missed lifting that trophy last time, so to come back here and actually win it means so much to all of us. We knew what we had to do; we stayed together throughout the tournament and we believed in each other.”
For Khutso Pila, the road to the title was anything but easy. She highlighted the collective mentality within the squad as one of the key factors behind Sundowns’ success in Botswana.
“It was not an easy tournament at all. Every game demanded a lot from us, but I think what really helped us was our collective mentality. We stayed together, we fought for each other and we never lost sight of what we came here to achieve. Everyone in the team contributed, whether they were on the pitch or supporting from the bench.”
The COSAFA triumph also represents another important step in Sundowns Ladies’ pursuit of continental success. Having secured qualification, Banyana Ba Style can now turn their attention to the CAF Women’s Champions League, where they will once again compete among Africa’s best.
