Black Rhinos Queens of Zimbabwe became the second team to secure a semifinal spot at the 2021 TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifiers following a comprehensive 3-0 victory over TURA Magic from Namibia in Durban on Sunday.
The victory means Queens have a full haul of six points in Group B and have ensured they will top the pool, while Magic and Green Buffaloes will fight it out for second place when they meet on Tuesday.
Buffaloes, who lost their opener 2-0 to Queens, will need only a draw in that fixture to advance with a better goal-difference.
Queens were superb as they defeated Magic on Sunday, with vastly experienced Zimbabwe international forward Rutendo Makore bagging a brace, the first a superb header from a corner.
Cristobel Katona, who also netted against Buffaloes, also got her name on the scoresheet as Queens gave an emphatic display of their potential in the competition.
Group A will be finalised on Monday, though Mamelodi Sundowns have already secured top spot in the pool.
But second spot is wide open when the two games are played simultaneously, as Sundowns clash with Manzini Wanderers from Eswatini at the King Zwelithini Stadium, while Lesotho Defence Force clash with Double Action of Botswana at the Chatsworth Stadium. Both games kick-off at 14h00 CAT.
A draw will be enough for Double Action to advance in second place, as a Wanderers win would leave both them and the Botswana side on four points and the latter going through on head-to-head.
If Lesotho Defence Force and Wanderers both win, then second place will be decided on goal-difference and at the moment it is advantage to the latter.
The top two teams in each of the groups advance to the semifinals, which will be played on Thursday.
You can follow all the games live on www.cosafa.tv and on SABC Sports Channel on Openview.
SUNDAY’S RESULT
Group B
TURA Magic 0 Black Rhinos Queens 3 (Makore 23′, 68′, Katona 66′)
MONDAY’S FIXTURES
Group A
Lesotho Defence Force vs Double Action (KO 14h00; 12h00 GMT)
Mamelodi Sundowns vs Manzini Wanderers (KO 14h00; 12h00 GMT)
GROUP STANDINGS
| GROUP A | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Mamelodi Sundowns (Q) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 6 |
| Double Action | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 3 |
| Manzini Wanderers | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 1 |
| Lesotho Defence Force | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | -6 | 1 |
| GROUP B | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| Black Rhinos Queens (Q) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 6 |
| Green Buffaloes | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
| TURA Magic | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches Played: 6
Goals scored: 22
Biggest victory: Mamelodi Sundowns 6 Lesotho Defence Force 0 (Group A, August 26); Mamelodi Sundowns 6 Double Action 0 (Group A, August 28)
Most goals in a game: 6 – Mamelodi Sundowns 6 Lesotho Defence Force 0 (Group A, August 26); Mamelodi Sundowns 6 Double Action 0 (Group A, August 28)
GOALSCORERS
4 goals – Melinda Kgadiete (Mamelodi Sundowns), Andisiwe Mgcoyi (Mamelodi Sundowns
2 – Cristobel Katona (Black Rhinos Queens), Rutendo Makore (Black Rhinos Queens)
1 – Lelona Daweti (Mamelodi Sundowns), Kholu Lebakeng (Lesotho Defence Force), Laone Moloi (Double Action), Rhoda Mulaudzi (Mamelodi Sundowns), Zanele Nhlapho (Mamelodi Sundowns), Marjory Nyaumwe (Black Rhinos Queens), Gaonyadiwe Ontlametse (Double Action), Boitumelo Rabale (Mamelodi Sundowns), Lesego Radiakanyo (Double Action), Nomvula Sanga (Manzini Wanderers)
Black Rhinos Queens passe sans problème
Au fil des journées, le dernier carré commence à être constitué. La quatrième journée de l’édition 2021 TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifiers a vu les Black Rhinos Queens valider leur billet pour la demi-finale. Dimanche, elles ont dominé TURA Magic 3-0 au King Zwelithini Stadium.
Le succès s’est articulé autour de Rutendo Makore auteure d’un doublé. Elle a ouvert le score à la 23e minute puis a récidivé à la 68e minute. Katona a également tiré son épingle du jeu à la 66e minute. Une réalisation qui permet aux Zimbabwéennes de finir premières de la poule B avec six points au tableau.
Malgré la belle résistance de TURA Magic, la chance et la précision n’était clairement pas du côté des Namibiennes. Elles ont d’ailleurs laissé filer plusieurs occasions nettes.
L’ultime journée de la poule B verra les Green Buffaloes affronter TURA Magic. Zambiennes et Namibiennes n’ont plus aucune carte à jouer désormais. La seule issue pour les deux formations et de l’emporter mardi pour espérer rejoindre le dernier carré. Autant que cette rencontre s’annonce explosive.
C’est sans pression que les Mamelodi Sundowns affrontent Manzini Wanderers ce lundi. Elles pourront même s’offrir le luxe de faire tourner et de préserver leurs meilleurs éléments, la qualification étant déjà acquise. C’est tout à fait autre chose pour les Wanderers. Avant dernière de leur groupe, les Swazilandaises n’ont d’autre choix que de s’imposer avec la manière pour entrevoir la demi-finale.
Là encore, elles n’auront pas leur destin en main puisqu’il faudra aussi surveiller l’issue de la rencontre entre Lesotho Defence Force et Double Action. Après une bonne entame, les Double Action ont sombré samedi. Elles peuvent encore rejoindre la phase à élimination directe en cas de succès sur le Lesotho Defence Force.
Les deux premiers de chaque groupe seront reversés en demi-finale. Les rencontres du dernier carré sont programmées pour le 2 septembre. Tous les matchs sont à suivre sur www.cosafa.tv et sur la chaine sportive de SABC à travers Openview.
Black Rhino Queens soma e segue
A formação do Black Rhino Queens (Zimbabwe) assegurou a liderança isolada do Grupo “B”, ao somar a sua segunda vitória depois de vencer a estreante Turu Magic (Namíbia), por 3-0, na segunda jornada da fase de grupos referente as eliminatórias regionais de acesso à primeira edição da TotalEnergies Liga dos Campeões Africanos em futebol feminino, a disputar-se na cidade sul-africana de Durban desde o dia 26 de Agosto e que deverá terminar no dia 4 de Setembro.
Um bis da temível e inevitável artilheira Rutendo Makore (23´ e 68´) e Christabelka Katona (66´) foi suficiente para as representantes do Zimbabwe carimbarem o passaporte para a próxima fase desta competição, neste que foi o seu último jogo da fase de grupos. Por sua vez, a equipa do Tura Magic (Namíbia), enfrentará, nesta terça-feira, pelas 14:00 horas, no King Zwelithini Stadium, as Green Buffalos da Zâmbia, que na jornada inaugural perderam para equipa militar pertencente a defesa zimbabueana (Black Rhino Queens).
Entretanto, amanhã os integrantes do Grupo “A” entrarão em acção com a realização da terceira e última jornada da fase de grupos. Com efeito, o Lesotho Defense Force Ladies medirá forças com o Double Action Ladies (Botswana), pelas 14:00 horas, no Chatsworth Stadium, enquanto que o Manzini Wanderers (Eswatini) terá pela frente o já qualificado conjunto do Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies (África do Sul), a mesma hora, no King Zwelithini Stadium.
Lembrar que esta prova terá duas fases, sendo que na primeira, com a disputa no sistema de todos-contra-todos em uma volta, as equipas estarão divididas em dois grupos de três e quatro formações. As duas primeiras classificadas de cada grupo apuram-se para a segunda fase, a eliminar, indo directamente para as meias-finais, de uma única mão e em sistema cruzado, em que o primeiro de um grupo enfrentará o segundo do outro.
Os vencedores das meias-finais seguem para a final na qual o vencedor será o representante da região da África Austral (COSAFA), na primeira edição da Liga dos Campeões Africanos em futebol feminino, cuja fase sinal terá lugar este ano no Egipto.
Participam ao todo sete equipas a destacar: Black Rhino Queens (Zimbabwe). Double Action (Botswama), Manzini Wanderers (Eswatini), Lesotho Defense (Lesotho), Turu Magic (Namíbia), Green Buffalos (Zâmbia) e Mamelodi Sundowns (África do Sul)
