Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies head coach Godfrey Sapula has reaffirmed his side’s ambition to reclaim continental glory after the South Africans opened their 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League campaign with a goalless draw against Egyptian outfit FC Masar.
The result leaves Sundowns with work to do in the group stage, but Sapula had made it clear before the tournament that his team travelled to Morocco with ambitions of winning the competition, rather than simply making up the numbers.
The experienced coach acknowledged the quality of the opposition and the challenges of playing against the hosts, but believes Sundowns have the pedigree and determination to compete for the ultimate prize.
Sapula was also careful not to allow the club’s previous continental successes to create a false sense of security, stressing that past achievements would count for little in a competition where the standard of women’s football continues to rise.
“We will not come here to add the numbers. We will come to give it our best shot to try and actually go all the way and win it,” Sapula declared ahead of the tournament.
The coach understands that the competition has become increasingly difficult, with more teams investing in women’s football and improving their standards.
He specifically highlighted FC Masar as a side deserving of respect, pointing to their progress and previous performances against Sundowns.
“History will not actually make us win. It’s what we’re going to be doing from tomorrow, starting with our first game and trying to move along with all the matches in the group stage,” he explained.
For Sapula, the immediate priority is navigating the group stage before turning attention to the knockout rounds.
He also acknowledged the importance of the opportunity to redeem themselves after missing out on last year’s competition, expressing gratitude to the supporters who have remained behind the team through difficult moments.
“It’s actually to be humble and be grateful that we’ve got a possibility of redemption. We can redeem ourselves, and we’re going to try and grab this opportunity with both hands.”
Sapula’s message is clear: Sundowns are not in Morocco simply to participate; they are there to challenge for the title. However, their opening draw against Masar serves as a reminder of the competitive nature of the tournament and the work still required to achieve that ambition.
Sundowns Ladies will be back in action on Wednesday when they take on Cameroonian side Lekié Football Filles in their second Group A fixture, looking to secure their first victory of the campaign. In the other Group A encounter, hosts FC Masar will face Morocco’s FUS Rabat as the race for a place in the semi-finals gathers momentum.
For Sapula, the challenge is now to translate the team’s ambitions into results and guide Banyana Ba Style towards another continental title.
Written y: Sandile Ndumo
