TP Mazembe secured their maiden African Women’s Champions League title with a 1-0 victory over defending champions AS FAR in the final held in El Jadida, Morocco.
The decisive moment came in the 10th minute when Marlene Kasaj converted a penalty after AS FAR captain Aziza Rabbah was penalized for handball following a lengthy VAR review. Kasaj coolly slotted the ball past goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi to give the Ravens an early lead.
Mazembe had a chance to double their advantage just six minutes later, but Merveille Kanjinga missed from close range after a precise cutback from Lacho Marta.
AS FAR, the 2022 champions, were heavily favored to win on home soil, especially after their dominant 3-1 group-stage victory over Mazembe on November 12. However, the Moroccan side failed to deliver in the final, struggling to create clear-cut chances. Tournament top scorer Doha El Madani, with six goals in the campaign, wasted AS FAR’s best opportunity, slicing a first-half free-kick wide.
Mazembe’s defense, marshaled by goalkeeper Fideline Ngoy, remained resolute throughout, with AS FAR unable to register a meaningful shot on target. Ngoy’s only misstep—a misjudged cross in the 81st minute—went unpunished as El Madani failed to capitalize.
The victory was met with jubilant celebrations as Mazembe head coach Lamia Boumehdi was lifted into the air by her players. The Lubumbashi-based club becomes the third team to win the tournament and earned $600,000 in prize money, while AS FAR settled for $400,000 as runners-up.
The match highlighted the rise of Central African women’s football, with Mazembe outshining their North African counterparts. The performance of the Ravens also caught the attention of Morocco coach Jorge Vilda, who was present at the stadium a day after Morocco was drawn alongside DR Congo in the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
TP Mazembe’s historic win underscores their potential as a rising force in African women’s football, capping off an unforgettable debut campaign.
