Sports Revelation Online ..breaking authenic sports reports
By Harry Awurumibe, Africa’s No.1 Women’s Football Journalist
African Champions, Mamelodi Sundowns players dominated CAF Best XI
Apparently not satisfied with the performance of Rivers Angels’ players in the just concluded maiden TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League, the Technical Study Group (TSG) on Sunday released the list of the tournament’s outstanding performers including the best XI without any player from the Nigerian Champions club making the cut.
South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns who were crowned as champions following their 2-0 triumph over Ghana’s Hasaacas Ladies in last Friday’s final in Cairo dominated the team. Sundowns claimed top honours just as the TSG members gave high reviews on a number of teams and players during the competition.
And following the assessment of all the eight teams that participated in the tournament, they compiled the Best X1 from all the stages of the competition. However, the TSG list is made up of players from the three best teams in the tournament namely Mamelodi Sundowns, Hasaacas Ladies and ASFAR Club of Morocco, who respectively finished first, second and third.
Expectedly, Andile Dlamini was chosen as the best of the tournament. The South African has not conceded a goal in three appearances for Sundowns, completing the heroics of her teammate Asa Rabalao who was chosen as the best goalkeeper in the group stage.
Sanaa Mssoudy of Morocco used Nigerian Champions Rivers Angels to shine as she scored a hat-trick in the opening match in Cairo.
In central defence, Hasaacas Ladies captain Janet Eygir and Mamelodi Sundowns captain Zanele Nhlapho got the nod. Joining them at left-back is Perpetual Agyekum (Hasaacas Ladies) and Bambanani Mbane (Mamelodi Sundowns) on the right.
In midfield, ASFAR’s Fatima Dahmos and Ghizlane Chebbak got the nod together with Evelyn Badu (Hasaacas Ladies) who also finished top scorer and best player of the tournament.
Up-front, Fatima Tagnaout (ASFAR), Doris Doaduwaa (Hasaacas Ladies) and Sanaa Mssoudy (ASFAR) make up the trio in attack.
The TSG set up the African XI in the more flexible 4-3-3 formation with players from Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya, Mali and Equatorial Guinea not worthy for a place in the Best XI.