South African senior women’s national team attacking midfielder, Melinda Kgadiete is confident her team, Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies can beat their opponents, Sporting Club Casablanca in the final of the 2023 CAF Women’s Champions League in Ivory Coast on Sunday.
The Brazilians edged 2022 winners, AS FAR FC 1-0 in the semi-final thanks to Boitumelo Rabale’s 72nd minute goal.
For SC Casablanca, the second best team in Morocco last season had to rely on penalties to see off another debutant, Ampem Darkoa 3-2 after the regulation time ended in a 2-2 draw.
Kgadiete believes the Masandawana deserve their win over AS FAR FC and will take the final as they have been taking other games after winning four straight games in the tournament.
“I am happy that we are through to the final and it was not an easy game as the scoreline was just 1-0,” Kgadiete told www.kick442.com
“We all know that AS FAR FC is a good side. I am glad that we came victorious. I kind of feel like we deserve it because we worked very hard and we had a lot of chances. I am happy that we are through to the finals.”
The former Bloemfontein Celtics Ladies player is not looking down on their next opponent, another Moroccan team after securing their first ever win over AS FAR FC in the competition.
She added: “We know what we are here. It doesn’t matter the team we play against. We will take every match the same way. We approach every game the same way.
“It doesn’t matter if our opponents in the final are first-timers or not. We know why we are here which is to take the trophy home.” She concluded.
Meanwhile, the kick-off time for the CAF Women’s Champions League Cote d’Ivoire 2023 has been changed to 17h00 local time (19h00 Cairo).
The Final, to be contested by 2021 Champions Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa and Morocco’s Sporting Club Casablanca will be played on Sunday, 19 November 2023.
The match will be played in Korhogo at Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium.