In an entertaining CAF Women’s Champions League opener, Ugandan defender Shadia Nankya was named Player of the Match as debutants FC Masar of Egypt clinched a surprise 1-0 victory over defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies.
Nankya, who anchored Masar’s central defense alongside compatriot Aisha Nantongo, delivered an impeccable performance that helped secure the club’s first-ever win in the prestigious tournament, held in Morocco.
The match’s decisive moment came just before halftime when Burundian forward Sandrine Niyonkuru netted from a penalty, awarded after Sundowns’ Tiisetso Makhubela was penalized for a foul in the box.
Niyonkuru made no mistake, sending Masar into the break with a narrow lead.
Despite heavy pressure from Sundowns in the second half, Nankya and the Masar defense held firm.
Sundowns’ head coach, Jerry Tshabalala, introduced fresh legs—including Oratile Mokwena, Khunjulwa Mali, and Nthabiseng Majiya—to try and break through Masar’s defense, but Nankya’s composure and commanding presence ensured Masar maintained their slim advantage until the final whistle.
Nankya’s performance drew widespread acclaim, with her tenacious marking, timely interceptions, and precise passing proving pivotal in frustrating Sundowns’ forwards.
Her partnership with Nantongo formed a solid defensive backbone that restricted Sundowns’ attacking chances and secured Masar’s place at the top of Group B alongside Nigeria’s Edo Queens, who defeated Central Bank of Ethiopia (CBE FC) 3-0 in their opener.
The result marked a rare defeat for Sundowns in the CAF Women’s Champions League; the South African champions have now lost just twice in their 16-match tournament history, with their last loss occurring in the 2022 final against AS FAR.
For FC Masar, the victory represents a historic milestone, sending shockwaves through the competition and establishing the team as a formidable presence in their tournament debut.
FC Masar will next face Edo Queens, while Sundowns will look to recover from this unexpected setback as they prepare to take on CBE FC in a crucial Group B clash on Wednesday.
