Cesane says Sundowns Ladies treated every game as a final

Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies attacking midfielder Noxolo Cesane says the team’s semi-final performance showed how badly they wanted a place in the CAF Women’s Champions League final, according to iDiski Times.

Sundowns beat Ugandan side Kawempe Muslim Ladies 4-1 in Egypt on Wednesday. Cesane scored the winner, which sends the South African side into their third final in the competition.

A first Champions League goal

The goal was Cesane’s first in the Champions League. It was her seventh of the season overall, six of which came in the Hollywoodbets Super League. She is also a Banyana Banyana international.

The result marks a turnaround for the team coached by Godfrey Sapula. Sundowns were knocked out at the group stage in 2024, and in 2025 they missed the finals altogether after losing out at the regional qualifiers.

What Cesane said

Speaking to the Mamelodi Sundowns media department, Cesane described the semi-final as a game of high intensity. “Both of the teams really wanted to win, really wanted to go to the final,” she said.

She added that the squad had approached each match of the campaign as though it were a final. According to Cesane, the coach’s instructions were to make life uncomfortable for Kawempe Muslim Ladies, push forward and score early so the team could manage the game.

That plan, she explained, was meant to give Sundowns a cushion if the opposition came back at them, allowing the team to recover during the match. She admitted it was a hard game, but said the players all wanted the win.

What happens next

Sundowns now wait to face their opponents in the final. The source does not give the date of the final or say who they will meet, so supporters should check official CAF and Mamelodi Sundowns channels for fixture details.

This story is based on reporting by iDiski Times.