Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies will begin their quest for another Continental crown when they take on Egyptian side FC Masar in their opening Group A fixture of the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League on Sunday, 1 November, in Ismailia, Egypt.
The Brazilians head into the competition with confidence, having enjoyed an impressive domestic campaign in which they remained unbeaten throughout the season.
With preparations further strengthened by their participation in the COSAFA Women’s Champions League, Banyana Ba Style will be looking to translate their domestic consistency and continental experience into a positive start to the tournament.
Speaking ahead of the encounter, Katleho Malebane highlighted the importance of the team’s preparations.
“We have prepared well through hard work, discipline and great league performances, having not lost throughout the entire season, and of course, working very hard in training. We understand the importance of starting the competition on a positive note. The team’s expectation is to go into the match with confidence, give our best performance and execute our game plan.”
Malebane also emphasized the need to respect their opponents while remaining committed to their own strengths and tactical identity.
“FC Masar are a competitive team with quality players, good technical ability and attacking threats. They are a team that believes in their style of play. We respect them as opponents, but our main focus is on ourselves. We need to stay focused, communicate well, win our individual battles and take advantage of the opportunities we create.”
A positive result on Sunday would provide valuable momentum as Sundowns Ladies navigate a competitive Group A, which also features Cameroonian side Lekié Football Filles and Morocco’s FUS Rabat.
Kebotseng Moletsane understands that consistency across all three group fixtures will be crucial to the team’s ambitions of progressing further in the competition.
“The opening match is very important because it sets the tone and builds momentum for the rest of the group stage. A positive result would give us confidence, but we also understand that the tournament is a journey. We have to take every game seriously, remain focused and approach each match with the same hunger and determination.”
Moletsane also acknowledged the unwavering support of Masandawana, promising that the team would give everything on the pitch throughout the campaign.
“To all our supporters, thank you for always standing behind us. Your support means a lot to the team. Continue believing in us and pushing us forward. We promise to give everything on the field, fight for the badge and represent the Club with pride. We are going into this competition with one goal, and that is to bring the trophy home.”
With an unbeaten domestic campaign behind them, valuable continental preparation completed and another CAF Women’s Champions League title firmly in their sights, Sundowns Ladies will be determined to make a statement in their opening encounter.
The challenge begins in Ismailia, where the Brazilians will look to combine their experience, tactical discipline and attacking quality to secure a winning start to their 2026 continental campaign.
