Photo Credit: FC Masar/Facebook
It only took until the second day for the 2024 CAF Women's Champions League to have its first surprise result. Egypt's FC Masar stunned reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa with a 1-0 Group B victory at the Stade Larbi Zouali in Casablanca. Burundian attacker Sandrine Niyonkuru converted a penalty kick late in the first half for the only goal of the match to deal two-time champion Sundowns their first ever group stage defeat.
A comfortable victory was expected for the champions of South Africa who have won two out of the three previous editions of Africa's top competition for women's club football. However the early signs indicated a difficult challenge posed by the UNAF region runners-up who contained the Sundowns attack and generated opportunities of their own. Sundowns came closest in the opening half hour when Lebogang Ramalepe's hard shot was tipped over the bar by the Masar goalkeeper.
But it was the Egyptian club who found the net in the final moments of the first half after Niyonkuru got on the end of a pass into the Sundowns penalty area and was bundled over by Tiitsetso Makhubela. The Masar star sent keeper Maitumelo Bosija the wrong way on the ensuing spot kick and it was 1-0 to the club formerly known as FC Tutankhamun.
Sundowns showed more urgency in the second half but the stubborn resistance continued from Masar. Lelona Daweti got on the end of a near post cross in the 73rd minute but could not direct her shot on target. In the 85th minute an excellent lifted pass from Sundowns substitute Oratile Mokwena found Karabo Dhlamini, who looped her shot over the onrushing Masar keeper but onto the top of the goal. The full time whistle brought frenzied celebrations from the Masar team who accomplished a shock result to kick off Group B action.
Sundowns will look to regroup when they face Ethiopia's CBE on Wednesday. Masar will take on Edo Queens of Nigeria. Highlights from the match are below.
Highlights
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