Nantongo, Nankya push boundaries in Women’s Champions League

Ugandan centrebacks Aisha Nantongo and Shadia Nankya led Egyptian side Masar to a third place finish on their debut in the Caf Women’s Champions League that climaxed Saturday in Morocco.

The two are the first Ugandan players to compete in the competition's semifinals and generally follow in the footsteps of their Crested Cranes teammate Joan Nabirye, who competed in the inaugural edition in 2021 with Vihiga Queens.

Masar started by stunning two time winners (2021 and 2023) Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 in Group B on November 10 in a match where Nankya was named player of the match. Three days later, they held Nigeria’s Edo Queens 0-0 then on November 16, they beat Cecafa representatives Commercial Bank of Ethiopia 2-1 to finish second in the group.

Two of the goals (winner against Mamelodi and opener against CBE) for Masar have also come from another Cecafa star in Sandrine Niyonkuru of Burundi.

Masar faced the 2022 champions and hosts AS Far from Morocco in the semis on Tuesday but went down early in the 12th minute. They equalized in stoppage time but could not force extra time as they immediately conceded the second from the restart to fall 2-1.

Prize money

Most of the players in AS Far’s side are known to Nantongo and Nankya. The former, who captained Kawempe Muslim in the past, faced Moroccans at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in 2022 while the latter, who made her mark at Uganda Martyrs Lubaga and Uganda Christian University, faced them in two friendlies last December.

They had a repeat of their group game with Edo in the third place playoff on Friday and while the sides could not be separated in 120 minutes, Masar won the ensuing penalty shootout 4-3. TP Mazembe, who have players that Nankya has faced and beaten twice with the national team Crested Cranes, won the tournament after beating As Far 1-0.

The efforts paid off handsomely as Caf had also increased prize money by 52 percent. CBE, who represented Cecafa at the expense of Uganda’s Kawempe Muslim, returned with $150,000 (about Shs570m), which goes to the team that finished fourth in the group.

Masar earned $350,000 (about Shs1.3b) by getting a podium finish. Another one of their wins is that Nankya was named in the technical study group’s "team of the group stages" at the tournament and awaits to see if she will make the overall team of the tournament.

Caf Women’s Champions League

Final

AS Far (Morocco) 0-1 TP Mazembe (DRC)

Third Place

Masar (Egypt) 0(4)-0(3) Edo Queens (Nigeria)

Semis

TP Mazembe 3-1 Edo Queens

AS Far 2-1 Masar

New Caf Women’s Champions League prize money

Champions                  US$600,000 (Shs2.28b)

Runners-up                 US$400,000 (Shs1.52b)

3rd place                     US$350,000 (Shs1.33b)

4th place                     US$300,000 (Shs1.14b)

3rd in group stage       US$200,000 (Shs760m)

4th in group stage       US$150,000 (Shs570m)