Lack of experience has been our major set-back- Ntopwa’s Sangala

Ntopwa Super Queens’ Head Coach, James Sangala said lack of experience was the biggest setback for the team at the Caf Women’s Champions League Cosafa qualifiers.

The Malawi’s Representatives in the International tournament were booted out of the competition after a drubbing 4-0 defeat to Botswana’s Double Action Ladies in their last Group A match.

The Amagheto Queens started the tournament with a 1-all stalemate against Lesotho Defence Force but they were beaten by the defending champions Green Buffaloes. The defeat to Zambia’s giants, left Ntopwa with Mathematical chances of sealing a semi-final slot at the tournament going into today’s much-anticipated match.

Ntopwa were needed to beat Botswana’s side by a 2-goal margin while their counter part were just having a smaller mountain to climb as a draw was enough.

Double Action Ladies were more hungry for the win as they took the lead as early as seven minutes into the first half.

Lesego Radiakanyo took her goals tally in the competition to three with a brace, while Oteng Bonang and Gaonyadiwe Ontlametse were also on target for Double Action.

In the post match interviews, Sangala said he has drawn a lot of positives from the tournament.

“We have drawn a lot of positives. We have seen that our girls are good but lack of experience has been our major set-back,” he told press. “One of the things that I have drawn is that other teams have stronger players who can kick the ball, on duels, are better.

“When we go back, we want to come back [for this tournament] we have to check our recruitment. Our players should be players who are tougher, players who are stronger maybe in the legs and also in the body.

“We have seen that these teams are having players who have physical fitness. You can see that they are doing well. Even if they can’t run, you can see that they are passing well, they kick around. They are winning most of the duels. Technically, of course, our girls are good and it’s only this aspect of power.”

Following the win, Group A winners Double Action Ladies of Botswana will face Costa do Sol of Mozambique in the first semifinal on Wednesday while Mamelodi Sundowns take on Green Buffaloes in the second game. That match-up is a repeat of the 2022 final that was edged by the Zambians. Sundowns were the inaugural winners of the competition in 2021.

Green Buffaloes remained on course to defend their title with a 2-1 win with Lesotho Defence Force in their last Group A match.

They came into the match needing a point to make the knockout phase, while the Defence Force needed a convincing victory to stand a chance.

Carol Kanyemba’s charges were the dominant of the two in the decider and were rewarded early in the first half when Comfort Selemani’s attempt was deflected by Ntsatsi Khakanyo, who scored an own goal, the first of this year’s competition.

Khakanyo redeemed herself later in the half as her set-piece was instrumental in the Defence Force equaliser also through a deflected own goal by Memory Nthala. With the Lesotho champions looking like they may get away with a point Esther Banda stole the headlines in the last 10 minutes of the match with the winner for the Buffaloes

Buffaloes finished second in the group, equal on seven points with Double Action but behind on goal-difference.

Zanele Nhlapo converted a first half penalty while Miche Minnies also netted and Andisiwe Mgcoyi got a brace as Mamelodi Sundowns defeated Costa Do Sol 4-0 to finish top of Group B with a full haul of nine points.

The pair came into the match already qualified for the semifinals having bagged maximum points from their first two group matches, with just top spot to be decided.

In the other match in the pool, Young Buffaloes and Olympic de Moroni played to a 3-3 draw in an entertaining dead rubber that saw both go home with a point.