In Summary: Despite the semi-final loss, Kawempe’s debut campaign included a historic group-stage victory over AS FAR, the Moroccan side which faces the South Africans in Sunday’s final.
ISMAILIA, Egypt — Uganda’s Kawempe Muslim Ladies missed out on a place in the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League final after suffering a 4-1 defeat to South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns in Wednesday’s semi-final at the Suez Canal Stadium.
Ronnel Donnelly scored a first-half hat-trick as Sundowns delivered a dominant attacking performance, scoring four times before the break to end Kawempe’s hopes of reaching the final on their tournament debut.
Donnelly opened the scoring in the 29th minute before adding two more goals in the 35th and 37th minutes, completing her hat-trick in a devastating nine-minute spell.
Noxolo Cesane extended Sundowns’ advantage in the 45th minute, sending the South African side into the interval with a commanding 4-0 lead.
Kawempe responded with greater attacking intent after the break and pulled one goal back through Latifah Nakasi in the 72nd minute. However, the Ugandan representatives could not mount a comeback as Sundowns comfortably managed the remainder of the match.
The result sends Sundowns into the final, where they will face defending champions AS FAR of Morocco on Sunday, November 15.
Sundowns set up final against AS FAR
The victory sends Sundowns into their fourth CAF Women’s Champions League final and their first since winning the title in 2023. The South African side will face defending champions AS FAR, who booked their place in the final with a 1-0 victory over Cameroon’s Lekié Football Filles.
Sunday’s encounter will be a rematch of the 2022 final, when AS FAR defeated Sundowns 4-0 to claim their first continental crown.
Both clubs have won the competition twice, with Sundowns lifting the trophy in 2021 and 2023, while AS FAR won in 2022 and 2025. The winner on Sunday will therefore become the first club to claim three CAF Women’s Champions League titles.
For Kawempe, the semi-final defeat ends their hopes of reaching the final, but their debut campaign remains a significant achievement. The Ugandan side had earlier recorded a historic 3-2 group-stage victory over AS FAR, demonstrating their ability to compete against established continental sides.
Kawempe will now face Lekié Football Filles in the third-place play-off on Saturday, November 14, while Sundowns turn their attention to Sunday’s final against AS FAR.
Sundowns also extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 21 matches, underlining their strong form heading into the final.
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