Nigeria Football Federation President, Ibrahim Gusau has showered encomiums on Edo Queens for qualifying for the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League.
The NWFL champions produced a stunning performance to score two late goals to earn a 2-1 win, which sent the defending champions, Mamelodi Sundowns out of the competition.
Edo Queens, who won the Nigerian title for only the first time last season, went ahead to beat all comers to win the WAFU B Women’s Champions League competition (a qualifying tournament for the continental championship) in Cote d’Ivoire, and have now made it to the last four of the biggest women’s club football competition in Africa.
Gusau said the Nigeria football family are proud of Edo Queens for their impressive performance while also urging them to go for the trophy.
He said, “The NFF and the Nigeria football family are very happy at the accomplishments of Edo Queens over the past months, from winning the WAFU B title to reaching the semi-finals of the CAF Women’s Champions League. We congratulate the Edo State Government and all those involved in this remarkable progress of the team.
“The ladies exhibited the much-talked-about Nigeria spirit to come from behind and defeat the Cup holders. Theirs is a statement in resilience, determination and ambition. I believe they have been highly inspired by that victory and have the capacity to go all the way and win the title.”
Sundowns, who have reached, at least, the Final of every edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League since the competition was inaugurated in 2021, went ahead in the 24th minute through Melinda Kgadiete, and held on to the advantage until the end of regulation time.
However, five minutes into added time, Emem Essien drew the Nigerians level when her tenacity in the box paid off after the Sundowns’ goalkeeper dropped the ball from a cross.
Five minutes later, Mary Mamudu gave the Queens victory by lashing into the roof of the net after a good run and pass by Super Falcons’ forward Goodness Osigwe.
The win handed the Nigerian champions the leadership of group B, with the defending champions eliminated.
Edo Queens will take on TP Mazembe of DR Congo in the first semi-final on Tuesday, at 4pm Morocco time, before AS FAR of Morocco confronts Masar of Egypt in the second semi-final three hours later.
In their first two matches of the competition, the Queens defeated Commercial Bank of Ethiopia 3-0 and drew 0-0 with Masar FC of Egypt.
NFF President Gusau Charges Edo Queens To Win CAF Champions League Trophy is first published on The Whistler Newspaper