***As Masar fancy semi-final ticket
By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Nigeria’s champions, Edo Queens’ quest to secure a semi-finals ticket at their first appearance in the Confederation of African Football Women’s Champions League (CAF WCL) faces an uphill task as Mamelodi Sundowns pose a big threat in the decisive Group B last match slated for Stade Laarbi Zaouli in Casablanca, Morocco on Saturday night.
Both teams will be fighting to secure full points that will guarantee them a place in the semi-finals of the ongoing competition with the Queens hard pressed to secure all three points because a loss to Sundowns will damage their ambition to qualify for the semi-final stage in their debut appearance in the African elite club competition.
The West African Football Union (WAFU-B) champions started the tournament like a house on fire by thrashing fellow debutantes Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) Ladies FC 3-0 in the opening match last Sunday but failed to sparkle in the second game against another newcomers, FC Masar of Egypt as both clubs settled for a point apiece after a barren draw at Stade Laarbi Zaouli, Casablanca.
Although Edo Queens still lead Group B courtesy of superior goals difference but on the same four points with Masar after two games, the 0-0 result has put Edo Queens in a precarious position as they face the toughest challenge ever in women’s football when they meet the South Africans in the make or mar encounter on Saturday.
Interestingly, defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns who are participating for the fourth time in CAFWCL and have won the trophy twice already know the terrain and how to dig themselves out of the hole as they did by bouncing back to the winning ways in their 4-0 mauling of CBE earlier in the week after they lost 0-1 to FC Masar in the opening day.
With only three points and seated third on the log behind Edo Queens and Masar, and starring early exit from the tournament in the face, Mamelodi Sundowns will fight like hell to qualify for the semi-final stage by beating their opponents to secure all three points on the night to end up with six points.
For this reason, coach Jerry Tshabalala who did not celebrate too much after his team thrashed CBE 4-0, will reach into his tactical archives to bring out a formula he thinks will help his team to overcome the stubborn Nigerians who unlike Sundowns have not lost a game in Morocco.
“It was important for us to bounce back strong. We started on negative note and needed to redeem ourselves. Credit must go to CBE; I think they are a good side despite us getting four goals. We appreciate the victory but there’s few things that I am not happy with our we play. We still have a few things to fix. We appreciate the victory, but we must continue to work hard”, the Sundowns coach told the press after the win.
This means that the South Africans who are chasing a record third title in four years will put everything they have in their bag of tricks to beat the Nigerian team.
Nevertheless, Edo Queens which is one of the five clubs making their first appearance in the competition will not just be ball watching while Sundowns pummel them on the night as coach Moses Aduku has said beating defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns in their last group game of CAFWCL 2024 edition is non-negotiable as his team hopes to reach the semi-finals of the tournament.
Aduku who unfortunately has been coaching his team from the stands knew that the barren draw in their second game on Wednesday has left no option than to fight for the needed victory against Sundowns to advance to the next round.
Speaking to the media ahead of their last group game on Saturday, Aduku acknowledged the tough task ahead of his team, saying, “I said before that the eight teams here are capable of winning the title. Nobody is unbeatable”.
He also said: “The team we play next lost their first game to the opponents we drew. So, we respect them outside the field but on the field, it’s 90 minutes and we are condemned to win.”
The veteran women’s football coach however praised his team for a good game in the goalless draw but rued their missed chances.
Said he: “I think we need to find our scoring boots. We had our chances but we did not take them, just as much as the opponents didn’t give us much space. My team played well. I think scoring was just the only problem against Masar.
“It wasn’t the result we wanted; we wanted to win but sometimes you win some and therefore, we wait and go for the next game. We believed winning this game would take us through to the semi-finals before the last game. We will prepare for the next game and we will come back stronger”, he concluded.
Elsewhere, Egypt’s FC Masar will also need at least a draw against the winless CBE to advance just as a draw too with Sundowns will not be too bad for Edo Queens if Masar do not lose to CBE as expected because the Ethiopians do not look a team that will trouble their Egyptian opposition.
But to be on the safer side Edo Queens must avoid defeat against Sundowns to reach the semi-finals.
Edo Queens are the third Nigerian team to feature in the tournament after Rivers Angels in 2021 and Bayelsa Queens in 2022, with the country’s highest finish being a third-place record by the latter.
Although Aduku has stated team’s mission of becoming the first Nigerian club to win the CAFWCL title, Edo Queens are already guaranteed a handsome $150,000 participating fee and will get more money as they progress in the competition that will see the winner smile home with $600,000, runners-up $400,000, and third-placed $35,000 aside from other monetary incentives.
Perhaps, the assurances given to the team by the new governor of Edo state, Monday Okpebholo that his government is behind them to bring home the trophy will be the extra motivation the players will need to beat Sundowns to stay in the game.
“I think the girls might be worried about the change of leadership in the Edo State, but I want them to know that we are with them. I have been briefed, and I know our team is in Morocco doing well. So, we will not abandon them. We are aware of the exploits, and I urge them to continue to dominate.
“My message to Edo Queens is that they have nothing to worry about. We are solidly behind them. We want our girls to beat Sundown Saturday and win for me.
“Go ahead to also win the cup and bring it to your fatherland. Sports will surely be given a top priority it deserves in my Government,” the governor said in statement from his office in Benin City on Friday.
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With this heartwarming assurances from Mr. Governor, Edo Queens are condemned to approach their match against Sundowns with all seriousness it deserves even as the team is loaded to hilt with rising stars like the eight Super Falcons invitees in the recent international friendly matches against Algeria.
They include standout players like striker Folashade Ijamilusi who scored a hat-trick for the Super Falcons against Algeria in Lagos recently; goalkeeper Monle Oyono and defenders Miracle Usani, Blessing Ilivieda and Comfort Folorunsho as well as midfielders Chioma Olise, Amarachi Odoma and forward Goodness Osigwe.
These players and their teammates can lead Edo Queens to surmount Mamelodi Sundowns’s obstacles as they also have a date with history in Morocco.
