By Victor Kanayo
AS FAR of Morocco on Sunday night displaced South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns to emerge 2022 CAF Women’s Champions League winners, after the final match ended 4-0.
The South Africans were reduced to nine women on the pitch which was majorly the reason that led the former defending champions lose scandalously in Rabat.
Talking about how it panned out, the Moroccan champions applied some early pressure on Masandawana at Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah in Rabat and they were awarded a penalty after Ibtissam Jraidi was fouled in the box.
Fatima Tagnaout converted the resultant penalty to hand FAR a 1-0 lead and Sundowns were reduced to 10 players after Rhoda Mulaudzi was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge.
Things went from bad to worse after restart for Banyana’s Ba Style as the South African side are also known as they were reduced to nine players when captain Zanele Nhlapo was sent off having received her second yellow card of the game.
The hosts then took advantage of their numerical superiority over Sundowns as eventual Woman of the Match Jraidi grabbed a hat-trick to seal FAR’s emphatic win.
Lelona Daweti with Sundowns pinning their hopes of retaining the continental title on the in-form striker.
The 23-year-old came into final as the tournament’s top scorer with four goals.
However, Daweti was tamed by the FAR defence throughout the game and she had one shot which missed the target as Masandawana were embarrassed by North African side.
The former South Africa under-17 international also missed out on the tournament’s Golden Boot award with Jraidi scooping the accolade with six goals.
Sundowns lost their continental title to FAR who became the second team to win the competition which was debuted last year.
The South Africans will now turn their attention to the Hollywoodbets Super League where they are sitting at the top of the standings having already won the title.
