As Morocco prepares to host the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League, all eyes are on South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies. The reigning champions enter the tournament on a quest to secure an unprecedented third title, cementing their status as Africa’s preeminent women’s football club.
A Dynasty in the Making
Affectionately known as “Banyana Ba Style,” Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies have been a dominant force in African women’s football since the inaugural CAF Women’s Champions League in 2021. The club captured the title in that historic first edition, defeating Ghana’s Hasaacas Ladies 2-0 in the final.
While they suffered a setback in 2022, falling 4-0 to Morocco’s AS FAR in the final, Sundowns Ladies bounced back in emphatic fashion in 2023. A commanding 3-0 victory over SC Casablanca saw them reclaim their place atop the African women’s football hierarchy.
Rabale’s European Ambitions
For Boitumelo Rabale, Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies’ star player and captain of the Lesotho national team, this year’s Champions League represents more than just a chance at a third title. It’s an opportunity to catch the eye of European clubs, particularly those in Spain’s Liga F.
“I’d like to see myself overseas – maybe LaLiga (Liga F). That’s where I want to be. That’s what I’m hoping – (that the Champions League can put her on their radar),” Rabale told ESPN after being named South African Football Journalists’ Association (SAFJA) Women’s Footballer of the Year.
– Boitumelo Rabale, Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies
The Rise of South African Women’s Football
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies’ success is a testament to the growing strength of women’s football in South Africa. The club has won five consecutive HollywoodBets Super League titles and will be joined at this year’s Champions League by fellow South African side the University of the Western Cape (UWC).
“When I first came to South Africa, it was not competitive at all, but now there are like five teams competing for the title, so it’s very tough, because it’s not as easy as it used to be for us [Sundowns],” Rabale noted, highlighting the league’s increasing competitiveness.
The Road Ahead
Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies find themselves in Group B at the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League, alongside Egypt’s FC Masar, Ethiopia’s CBE, and Nigeria’s Edo Queens. The top two sides will advance to the semi-finals, where they’ll face the top teams from Group A.
The journey begins on November 10, as Sundowns Ladies take on Masar in their opening match. With a blend of experience, talent, and determination, the South African champions are well-positioned to make history once more and further elevate the profile of African women’s football on the global stage.
