Mamelodi Sundowns secured a place in the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League final after defeating Uganda’s Kawempe Muslim Ladies 4–1 in the semi-finals in Ismailia, Egypt, on Wednesday.
Forward Ronnel Donnelly scored a first-half hat-trick in nine minutes as the South African champions produced a commanding performance at the Suez Canal Stadium. The result sets up a final against defending champions AS FAR of Morocco on Sunday, 15 November.
According to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) match report, Donnelly opened the scoring in the 29th minute, added a second in the 35th and completed her hat-trick in the 37th. Noxolo Cesane extended Sundowns’ lead shortly before half-time.
Kawempe pulled a goal back through Latifah Nakasi in the 72nd minute, but could not overturn the four-goal deficit. The Ugandan club’s hopes of reaching the final in its first appearance at this stage came to an end.
Sundowns set up final against AS FAR
In the other semi-final, Morocco’s AS FAR edged Cameroon’s Lekié Football Filles 1–0 to advance. The result sets up a meeting between two of the competition’s most established sides.
Both Sundowns and AS FAR have won the tournament twice. Sunday’s final will therefore decide which club becomes the first three-time champion of the CAF Women’s Champions League.
The final is also a rematch of the 2022 decider, when AS FAR defeated Sundowns 4–0. The South African side will now have an opportunity to contest another continental title, while the Moroccan champions seek to defend their crown.
Kawempe’s debut campaign
Although the semi-final result was decisive, Kawempe’s progress to the last four was a significant achievement for the Ugandan club. Its campaign brought a team from outside the competition’s traditional title contenders into the continental spotlight.
CAF’s tournament coverage identified Kawempe striker Agnes Nabukenya as the leading scorer ahead of the semi-final, with four goals. The club’s run also included a group-stage victory over AS FAR, demonstrating its ability to compete against experienced opposition.
The defeat means Kawempe will play Lekié Football Filles in the third-place match on Saturday, 14 November. That fixture offers both debut semi-finalists an opportunity to finish the tournament with a podium position.
A wider test for African women’s club football
The tournament brings together clubs representing different domestic football systems and levels of investment. For teams such as Kawempe and Lekié, reaching the semi-finals provides valuable continental exposure, even when the final hurdle proves difficult.
For established sides such as Sundowns and AS FAR, the competition provides a platform to measure squad depth, coaching and performance against the continent’s strongest clubs. Their repeated appearances in the latter stages also underline the challenge facing other teams seeking to close the competitive gap.
The development of women’s club football will depend on more than tournament results. Domestic league structures, player development, facilities, commercial support and regular competitive fixtures all influence whether clubs can sustain progress at continental level.
Sunday’s final will settle the 2026 title, while the third-place match will give Kawempe and Lekié one more opportunity to conclude their campaigns positively.
Sources: CAF, “Donnelly hat-trick fires Mamelodi Sundowns into CAF Women’s Champions League final,” 11 November 2026; CAF semi-final preview and tournament background.
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