Mamelodi Sundowns - SC Casablanca: Confidence high in both camps ahead of CAF Women’s Champions League final

With kick off to the CAF Women’s Champions League, Cote d’Ivoire 2023 final approaching in a few hours, both sides are oozing with confidence ahead of the big showdown set to take place at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Korhogo on Sunday evening.

Inaugural champions, Mamelodi Sundowns take on tournament debutant, SC Casablanca in a north versus south encounter to decide who will be crowned champions of Africa’s premier women’s football club competition.

For the South Africans, their objective will be to erase the hurt of last season and reclaim the title their lost to AS Far in Rabat where they fell to a 4-0 defeat.

SC Casablanca on the other hand have a score to settle with the South Africans who edged them 1-0 during the group stages. In addition to that, they will be aiming to keep the title in Morocco following AS Far’s elimination at the very hands of Sundowns.

Speaking from the pre-match press conference at the match venue on Saturday, Zanele Nhlapho said she want to erase last season’s memory of the final where she was also sent off in the loss to AS Far.

“That final remains a bad memory. I received a red card and left my sisters alone on the field. I wasn't proud of myself. Today, we are in a different spirit. This stadium welcomed us so well that we want to repay the spectators with a great performance”, said a confident Nhlapho.

Galvanized by their victory against Ampem Darkoa, the Moroccans are just as high in confidence ahead of the final on Sunday.

“A final is not played, it is won. We have done a huge amount of work to get to this point. Of course, they are used to being at this level. We are the competitors. We are not going to play the final to show our participation. We are not going to come face to face with them. We want this trophy”, said SC Casablanca star, Chaimaa Kriem.

For SC Casablanca coach, Medhi El Qaichouri, what will be key for them is a bit of luck and tactical discipline.

The tactician admitted to working on several systems in order to possibly surprise their opponents and leave with the trophy to Casablanca.

Kick off on Sunday, 19 November is at 17h00 GMT.