Jerry Tshabalala says team lacked hunger after shock exit

The Brazilians lost 2-1 to an energetic Edo Queens of Nigeria, with the debutants coming from behind to knock the defending champions out of the competition. 

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For the first time in four years, Sundowns Ladies will not contest the final of the tournament they won twice, in 2021 and 2023, and grabbing silver in 2022. 

The South Africans got off to a poor start, losing 1-0 in the opening match before bouncing back with 4-0 win.

''To be honest, I don't think we showed any hunger to say we want this more. If you come to the tournament and you start on a negative it becomes difficult to bounce back, but we tried to show character to bounce back in the second game. In the third game it wasn't to be, the players gave it their all but we didn't defend nicely as a team,'' said Tshabalala.

Tshabalala refrained from scolding his players openly, but chose to instead to say it just wasn’t their day.

''I don't want to bash my girls, they gave their all - it wasn't to be. Even with the penalty Andile did well to save the penalty. It wasn't to be for us,'' added Tshabalala.

A dejected Tshabalala described his team’s performance as very disappointing – they managed only one win and two defeats – something that has never happened before with the Chloorkop outfit in this tournament. This was only their third loss in four years.

''A disappointing performance from the team. But in the first half we executed the plan very well, we crossed them very high and didn't allow them space. I think in the last 10 minutes of the first half, we removed the foot off the pedal.  Second half I spoke to the girls and said - don't try to lose the ball as much as possible and the only way to do that is to play close to each other. I don't think we created a lot of goal scoring opportunities but it was an intense game,'' he expressed.

Tshabalala says there are some lessons learnt with the early exit – which will see a new champion being crowned. Of the four remaining teams, only AS FAR has won the title, lifting the trophy in 2022.

 Sundowns Ladies finished third in Group B with three points. Log leaders Edo Queens and second-placed FC Masar are level on seven points each, while CBE FC are pointless at the bottom of the table. On Tuesday Edo Queens will face off with TP Mazembe of DR Congo, while AS FAR will lock horns with FC Masar (Egypt) in a North African derby.  Both matches will be played on Tuesday.