Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies and AS FAR joined Hasaacas Ladies and Malabo Kings in the semi-finals of the inaugural Women’s African Champions League after the final round of group games in Cairo.
South Africa’s Sundowns topped Group B after a 0-0 draw with AS FAR, and the Moroccans progressed after Vihiga Queens were beaten 4-0 by Rivers Angels.
Equatoguineans Malabo Kings will face Mamelodi Sundowns in the last four, with Hasaacas Ladies of Ghana taking on AS FAR.
The semi-finals will take place on Monday, with the final on 19 November.
Point enough for AS FAR as Queens collapse
Mamelodi Sundowns went into the final round of games knowing a draw would be enough to progress, and their match against AS FAR had little goalmouth action.
Boitumelo Rabale rattled the Moroccans’ crossbar with an early free-kick and AS FAR’s best chance came just after the hour mark when captain Ghizlane Chebbak hit the outside of the right-hand upright from a smart free-kick routine.
The Rabat-based side were in danger of exiting the competition on head-to-head record but a late collapse from Vihiga Queens saw them reach the knock-out stages.
After losing their first two group games Rivers Angels had needed to win by a five-goal margin and for AS FAR to lose to have a chance of reaching the last four.
The task seemed unlikely with their game against the Queens goalless after 65 minutes – but the Nigerians suddenly burst into life.
Damilola Koku won two penalties which were both converted by Vivian Ikechukwu, and Koku made it 3-0 with a brilliant chipped finish from the edge of the area in the 80th minute.
Gift Monday added a fourth four minutes later with a low angled shot, but the Angels were unable to score a fifth and both they and the Kenyans were eliminated by AS FAR’s result.
Hosts Wadi Degla knocked out
Hasaacas Ladies had clinched top spot in Group A on Thursday with a 2-2 draw against Egyptians Wadi Degla, while Malabo Kings drew 1-1 with Mali’s AS Mande and progressed ahead of the hosts on head-to-head record.
Wadi Degla had twice led the Ghanaians in the 30 June Stadium, but the 12-time Egyptian champions missed out on a place in the last four after being pegged back.
Jasmin Zachwieja slotted into the bottom left-hand corner in the ninth minute but Hasaacas equalised midway through the first half when Faustina Aidoo flicked in Perpetual Agyekum’s in-swinging free-kick from the right wing.
Noha Mamdouh quickly restored Wadi Degla’s lead with a curling free-kick from almost 30 yards out which crept past keeper Grace Buoadu, but Veronica Appiah netted a second equaliser four minutes into the second half with a close-range header.
AS Mande had lost both their opening games but the Malians took a second-minute lead against Malabo Kings at Al Salam Stadium when Bassira Toure turned in from six yards after Kings failed to clear a free-kick.
AS Mande keeper Sadio Sow pulled off a stunning double save in the second half to keep out efforts from Drepoba Gbougou and Bella Rose, but Muriellynda Mendoua Abossolo levelled with a side-footed shot from the edge of the area with 10 minutes left.
Rose almost secured a win in injury time, but Sow brilliantly denied her from a one-on-one and the Kings progressed regardless.
Source: BBC
