TP Mazembe win African Women’s Champions League in upset

TP Mazembe upset AS FAR 1-0 to win the African Women’s Champions League for the first time.

The only goal of the contest in El Jadida came in the 10th minute through Marlene Kasaj’s penalty after AS FAR captain Aziza Rabbah was penalised for handball.

The side from DR Congo should have doubled their lead six minutes later when an unmarked Merveille Kanjinga fired wide from seven yards out.

AS FAR had been fancied to add to their continental triumph in 2022 given the Moroccans were playing on home soil and had won 3-1 when the two sides met in the group stage on 12 November.

Yet AS FAR put in a subdued display and failed to test Ravens goalkeeper Fideline Ngoy, with tournament top scorer Doha El Madani – who had netted six goals in their run to the final - wasting their best chance as she sliced a first-half free-kick wide.

TP Mazembe boss Lamia Boumehdi was thrown into the air by her players amid the celebrations as the Lubumbashi outfit became the third winners of the African Women’s Champions League.

The Ravens pick up a cheque for $600,000 (£479,000) after the prize money was increased for the fourth edition of the tournament, while the runners-up receive $400,000 (£319,000).

TP Mazembe were making their first appearance in the final but it was the Moroccans who made a nervy start, with Ravens forward Kgalebane Mohlakoana having one shot blocked before her follow-up effort was deflected into the arms of AS FAR keeper Khadija Er-Rmichi.

Replays showed the ball had struck the arm of centre-back Rabbah, and a penalty was eventually awarded following a lengthy video assistant referee check.

Kasaj sent the spot-kick right of centre, just past the dive of Er-Rmichi, and TP Mazembe spurned a glorious chance to make it 2-0 soon after.

Lacho Marta was released down the right and her cut-back found striker Kanjinga, who skewed her shot narrowly wide of the left-hand upright with the goal gaping.

AS FAR struggled to impose themselves on the game and rarely threatened in the second half, with the Ravens looking more likely to extend their lead.

Ngoy did misjudge one cross with nine minutes left, but the ball would not drop to El Madani and the chance swiftly passed.

Morocco boss Jorge Vilda was in attendance a day after the North Africans were drawn in a group alongside DR Congo at next year’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations yet it was the Central Africans who outshone the Atlas Lionesses players on show and sealed a deserved victory.