CAF Women's Leage
Women’s Champions League Morocco 2024: Edo Queens set to assert authority in Group B
This is the second meeting between Nigerian clubs and Egyptian clubs at the finals, the only previous such meeting saw Bayelsa Queens win 3-0 against Wadi Degla in their final group game in 2022. The result saw Bayelsa Queens progress to the last four.
Teams from Nigeria have faced off against teams from North Africa three times at the finals – their record in these games reads W1 L2.
Overall this is the fourth meeting between teams from Nigeria and North Africa at the finals. In addition to Bayelsa Queens’ win over Wadi Degla, AS FAR defeated Rivers Angels 3-0 in their opening group game in 2021. AS FAR also defeated Bayelsa Queens in the 2022 Semi-finals winning 1-0.
Edo Queens FC
· Edo Queens are Nigeria’s third participant at the finals after Rivers Angels and Bayelsa Queens.
· Edo Queens won their opening game 3-0 against CBE they are the first team from Nigeria to win their opening game at the finals in 2021 Rivers and Angels lost 3-0 to AS FAR and in 2022 Bayelsa Queens lost 2-1 to Sundowns.
· Edo Queens recorded the joint biggest win by a Nigerian club at the finals along with Bayelsa Queens 3-0 win over Wadi Degla at the group stages in 2022.
· Victory for Edo Queens will see them become the first Nigerian club at the finals to win their opening two games.
· Should they not concede Edo Queens will be the first Nigerian club to keep successive clean-sheets in their opening two games.
· In their opening game against CBE, Edo Queens scored their three goals with six shots on target.
· In their opening game against CBE, the Nigerian’s managed to complete a game high 505 passes, with a passing accuracy of 78.8%.
· Of the 641 passes they attempted in their opening game win over CBE, 348 of the passes were in the opposition half.
· Should either of Edo Queen’s goal scorers Emem Essien, Folashade Ijamilusi or Goodness Osigwe score, they will be the first players to score more than a single goal for a Nigerian club at the finals.
· Against CBE, the Nigerians had four players who completed at least 50 passes.
· Miracle Usani attempted 8 crosses in the win over CBE, while Ijamilusi attempted 6 crosses.
FC Masar
· Masar defeated defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 in their opening game, at the finals they are the first team to defeat Sundowns in a group game.
· Masar are Egypt’s second representatives at the finals, like Wadi Degla in 2021 they won their opening game.
· Masar’s win over Sundowns ended a five-game losing run for Egyptian clubs at the finals, Wadi Degla lost their final two games in 2021 and all three games in 2022.
· Masar are the first Egyptian club to keep a clean-sheet at the finals, Wadi Degla had conceded in all of their previous six games at the finals.
· Masar are the third club from the UNAF region to win their first ever game at the finals along with Wadi Degla and AS FAR in 2021.
· Victory for Masar will see them become the first Egyptian club to win two successive games at the finals.
· Should Masar avoid defeat they will be the first Egyptian club at the finals to go undefeated over their first two games at the finals.
· No team from the UNAF region has ever lost their maiden game at the finals, in addition to the three teams that had won SC Casablanca drew their first game in 2023.
· In their opening game against Sundowns, Masar managed to complete just 127 passes. The second fewest amongst all teams on Match Day one.
Miracle Usani is the sole Edo Queen player in the CAF Women’s Champions League Best XI, which was announced on Monday.
The Best XI selection highlights the top-performing players of the tournament. It is compiled by the CAF Technical Study Group (TSG), which includes football analysts, coaches, and technical advisors.
The Best XI features four players from debutants FC Masar which placed third in the final ranking.
Four players are selected from Champions TP Mazembe and two from runners-up AS FAR of Morocco.
In goal is FC Masar’s Habiba Sabry, whose acrobatic saves and commanding presence earned her the title of Best Goalkeeper of the tournament.
The central defense is solidified by Shadia Nankya and Aisha Nantongo from FC Masar.
The full-back positions are occupied by Miracle Usani of Edo Queens on the left and Vukulu Belange of TP Mazembe on the right.
TP Mazembe’s Marline Kasaj anchors the midfield, providing exceptional support during their title run.
The attacking midfield duo features AS FAR’s Sanaa Mssoudy and Sandrine Nyonkuru of FC Masar, adding creativity and flair to the line-up.
The attacking trio is led by the tournament’s top scorer, Doha El Madani (ASFAR), on the right, with TP Mazembe’s Lacho Marta on the left, and Merveille Kanjinga (TP Mazembe) as the central striker.
CAF Women’s Champions League Best XI:
GOALKEEPER
- Habiba Emad Sabry (FC Masar)
DEFENDERS
- Miracle Usani (Edo Queens)
- Shadia Nankya (FC Masar)
- Aisha Nantongo (FC Masar)
- Vukulu Belange (TP Mazembe)
MIDFIELDERS
- Marline Kasaj (TP Mazembe)
- Sanaa Mssoudy (AS FAR)
- Sandrine Nyonkuru (FC Masar)
FORWARDS
- Doha El Madani (AS FAR)
- Merville Kanjinga (TP Mazembe)
- Lacho Marta (TP Mazembe)
Edo Queens lost in the third-placed match with Egypt’s FC Masar after a penalty shoot-out. The Egyptians won 5-3 after a goalless draw.
As it happened when both teams met in the group stage, full-time scores remained 0-0. It was obvious the Edo Queens were deficient in penalty kick shooting as they had earlier lost one in their encounter with Mamelodi Sundowns.
The technical crew probably did not reckon with penalty kick training.
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Nigeria’s flagbearers, the Edo Queen will make their final appearance at the 2024 CAF Women’s League this Friday when they take on FC Masar of Egypt in the third-place match.
A win will not only fetch them the bronze medal, but an increased financial gain from $300,000 to $350,000. By the current exchange rate, this is N589,284,600.
A chunk of this will undoubtedly improve their living standards and also fetch some of the players better offers from foreign clubs.
Already, their good run has led to some of the players emerging as nominees at next month’s CAF Awards in Morocco. Monle Oyono is nominated along with Super Falcon’s goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie as contender for the African Woman’s Goalkeeper of the Year.
So also is Emem Essien seeking to win the Women’s version of the Interclub Player of the Year Award. Their coach, Moses Adukwu is not also left out as he is nominated for the Women’s Coach of the Year category.
Edo Queens is among the eight shortlisted for the Club of the Year. A defeat of FC Masar of Egypt in the third-place match will improve their honours chase.
Both teams met at the group stage and played a barren draw. A winner must emerge this Friday as both teams aim for a pdium finish.
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