Red Roses denied dream home final
Kabelo Boranabi | Thursday August 27, 2026 22:18
The defending champions were thrashed 5-0 by the South African giants in the semi-final played in the GU Stadium, ending their hopes of reaching a third successive final and retaining the crown they won last year.
Red Roses will instead face Malawi's Silver Strikers in Saturday's third-place playoff, while Sundowns will meet ZESCO Ndola Girls in the final for the region's place at this year's CAF Women's Champions League finals to be played later this year. GU had known they were facing their biggest test of the tournament. Sundowns, two-time African champions and the most successful side in the history of the regional qualifiers, arrived with a perfect group-stage record. But few would have expected the defending champions to be taken apart so comprehensively in front of their home supporters.
The Red Roses made a positive start and had an early effort on target through Keitumetse Dithebe, but Sundowns gradually tightened their grip on the contest. The breakthrough came in the 21st minute when Mares forward, Refilwe Tholakele headed home unmarked at the back post. Nonhlanhla Mthandi then struck just before half-time to give Sundowns a commanding 2-0 lead at the break. Any hopes of a GU comeback disappeared in the 67th minute when a mistake at the back allowed Tholakele to grab her second and Sundowns' third. Isabella Ludwig added a fourth 10 minutes later before Wendy Shongwe completed the rout in stoppage time.
Tholakele's brace took her tally to five goals, putting her clear at the top of this year's golden Boot race, while Ludwig moved to three goals as the tournament. Gaonyadiwe Ontlametse could not add to her 13-goal all time in competition as the hosts endured a difficult evening infront of a impressive home crowd. The defeat brings a difficult end to what had been another strong run for Red Roses. After reaching the final in 2024 and lifting their maiden title last year, the Red Roses had hoped home soil would carry them to another final. They instead leave the title race with their heaviest setback of the campaign.
Meanwhile, ZESCO Ndola Girls booked their second successive final appearance with a 2-1 victory over Silver Strikers in the earlier semi-final. Penelope Mulubwa and Charity Mubanga gave the Zambians a two-goal lead before Silver Strikers pulled one back, but ZESCO held firm.
Tomorrow's final is a repeat of last year's semi-final, when ZESCO knocked Sundowns out before going on to lose the final to GU on penalties. It remains Sundowns' only defeat in ordinary time at the regional finals since their debut in 2021. For GU, there is still bronze to fight for. But after arriving as champions and hosts, Saturday's third-place playoff will feel a long way from dream final at home.