Donnelly hat-trick fires Mamelodi Sundowns into CAF Women's Champions League final
Ronnel Donnelly scored a stunning first-half hat-trick as Mamelodi Sundowns thrashed Uganda's Kawempe Muslim Ladies 4-1 on Wednesday to reach the CAF Women's Champions League Egypt 2026 final.
The South African champions produced a devastating attacking display at the Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia, scoring four goals before half-time to end Kawempe's hopes of reaching the final on their tournament debut.
Donnelly struck three times in just nine minutes, scoring in the 29th, 35th and 37th minutes, before Noxolo Cesane added a fourth on the stroke of half-time.
Kawempe pulled a goal back through Latifah Nakasi in the 72nd minute, but the Ugandan side could not recover from Sundowns' commanding first-half advantage.
The victory sets up a highly anticipated final against defending champions AS FAR of Morocco on Sunday, 15 November, with both clubs seeking a record third continental title.
Donnelly's nine-minute hat-trick destroys Kawempe's hopes
Sundowns, who entered the semi-final unbeaten, took control after a competitive opening period in which Kawempe initially resisted their attacking pressure.
Donnelly broke the deadlock in the 29th minute, converting an opportunity created by Asanda Hadebe to put the two-time champions ahead.
The forward doubled her tally six minutes later, finishing another attacking move after being set up by Lelona Daweti.
Kawempe had barely recovered when Donnelly struck again in the 37th minute to complete her hat-trick and leave the Ugandan debutants facing a formidable challenge.
Cesane extended Sundowns' advantage in the 45th minute, giving the South Africans a 4-0 lead at the interval.
Kawempe showed greater attacking determination after the break and were rewarded when Nakasi headed home in the 72nd minute.
However, Sundowns comfortably protected their advantage to secure a convincing victory and maintain their unbeaten record in the competition.
The South African side also extended their remarkable run to 21 matches without defeat in all competitions.
Sundowns set up AS FAR rematch
The victory sends Sundowns into their fourth CAF Women's Champions League final and their first since winning the title in 2023.
They will face AS FAR, who defeated Cameroon's Lekié Football Filles 1-0 in the other semi-final.
Sunday's encounter will be a repeat of the 2022 final, when the Moroccan side defeated Sundowns 4-0 to claim their first continental crown.
Both clubs have since won the competition twice, meaning the winner will become the first three-time champion.
For Kawempe, the semi-final defeat ends their hopes of reaching the final, but the Ugandan club can take encouragement from an impressive debut campaign that included a historic victory over AS FAR during the group stage.
Kawempe will face Lekié Football Filles in the third-place play-off on Saturday, 14 November, while Sundowns turn their attention to Sunday's final against the defending champions.