Ghana’s Hasaacas Ladies will be hoping to make history when they lock horns with Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies in the maiden final of Caf Women’s Champions League at the June 30 Sports Stadium in Cairo, Egypt on Friday.
The Ghanaian champions, who double as WAFU winners, have picked three wins and one draw at the tournament and became the first side to book their place in the semis as well as final.
Although, they had a quiet an easy run in the group stages, they were made to work hard before they could pip Moroccan giants ASFAR in the semifinals. It took the brilliance of striker Evelyn Badu to score the match-winner in the second half in order to break down the resilient defence of their opponents.
Badu, in particular, has become one of the discoveries of the tournament as the youngster has bagged five goals already in four games and stands in a pole position to be crowned as the topscorer.
Ghana coach Yussif Basigi is expected to parade an unchanged line up to face Sundowns on Friday. According to reports from the team’s camp, he will maintain all the players that started the semifinals against Moroccan giants ASFAR on Monday.
“I have faith in my goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and attackers. You will see more variations of how the team plays,” Yussif Basigi told the press during pre-match conference.
Meanwhile, Sundowns had to labour to defeat Malabo Kings 5-4 on penalties after the game travelled to extra time without producing a winner.
Sundowns coach Jerry Tshabalala is also optimistic of a victory against Hasaacas as he believes his charges are ready for the test.
“It’s a big game. We wanted to be here, and we did it. We saw their strengths and their weaknesses, so we prepared well for them,” Tshabalala said.
On Thursday, Ghana’s first lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, spoke to the ladies and their technical team via telephone and assured them of the country’s support. She also made some undisclosed promises to them should they emerge winners of the tournament.
Ahead of the final, CAF has appointed top Ethiopian referee Lidya Tafesse Abebe to to be the center referee for the historic game.
Abebe is expected to be assisted by Queency Victoire and Mimisen lyorhe while Sahenda Saed plays the role of fourth official.
The match will be televised across the continent thanks to Supersport and mainly in Ghana by GTV Sports +. Also, it will be streamed live on AshesGyamera.com for those outside the continent or away from their television sets to catch a glimpse of it.
Hasaacas Ladies probable XI vs Sundowns:
Grace Boadu, Blessing Agbomadzi, Azumah Bugre, Janet Egyiri, Perpetual Agyekum, Faustina Aidoo, Veronica Appiah, Doris Boaduwaa, Evelyn Badu, Rahama Jafaru, Regina Antwi
Mamelodi Sundowns probable XI vs Hasaacas:
Dlamani, Makhurubetshi, Nhlapho, Morifi, Mulaudzi, Kgandiete, Mbane, Mokwena, Kgasago, Daweti, Mthandi
The game’s kickoff is 5pm local time.