Banyana Ba Style, the defending champions, suffered a setback in their quest to retain the continental crown after a 1-0 defeat to Egypt in their Group B match at the Stade Larbi Zaouli in Morocco on Sunday. The only goal of the match came from Burundi forward Sandrine Niyonkuru, who converted a penalty in stoppage time during the first half to give Egypt the lead. This loss was a surprise for Sundowns, who were up against an Egyptian side making their debut in the tournament.
The match saw a surprising decision from Sundowns coach Jerry Tshabalala, who opted to bench experienced goalkeeper Andile Dlamini in favor of Botswana international Maitumelo Boseja. Despite having key players like Lebohang Ramalepe, Bambanani Mbane, Kholosa Biyana, Karabo Dhlamini, and Melinda Kgadiete in the starting lineup, Sundowns struggled to show their usual composure. Although Masandawana had some chances, their finishing let them down, and a penalty awarded to Egypt allowed Niyonkuru to score the decisive goal.
Sundowns’ efforts to mount a comeback were in vain as players like Kgadiete, Lelona Daweti, and Ramalepe failed to capitalize on their opportunities. The loss came just a day after the University of the Western Cape also suffered a defeat, losing 2-0 to TP Mazembe. Sundowns will now aim to bounce back in their next Group B match against Commercial Bank of Ethiopia on Wednesday. The South African side began the match positively, with Kgadiete narrowly missing the target early on and Nonhlanhla Mthandi also coming close, but they ultimately couldn’t find the back of the net.
