Nigeria Women Football League champions, Edo Queens, will aim to become the first Nigerian club to reach the final of the CAF Women’s Champions League as they take on TP Mazembe in the first semi-final match on Tuesday (today) in Morocco, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Edo Queens reached the last four of the eight-team tournament on Saturday after sending defending champions, Mamelodi Sundowns packing in dramatic fashion.
They trailed the South Africans by a goal until the dying moments of the match and clutch player, Emem Essien scored the equaliser in added time before Mary Mamudu scored a late goal to win the match 2-1.
After scaling the group stage hurdles, the NWFL champions will hope to surpass the achievement of their compatriots Bayelsa Queens, who made it to the semi-finals in 2022.
Ahead of the TP Mazembe clash, Edo Queens coach Moses Aduku remains level-headed, although he was unequivocal about their ambition of winning the tournament before their first game.
“We want to thank God first and foremost for taking us this far, the last game was not easy, winning it in the last minute and we are through to the semis for the first time. But like what I said in the first press briefing, we take it one game at a time, and this is the fourth game, we will approach it the same way, while correcting our mistakes at the same time, what we did well, we improve on it,” he said via CAF Online.
“We are good to go, the players are good, everybody’s ready and the 90 minutes will decide who wins,” he added.
Meanwhile, Edo Queens striker, Chioma Olise says her teammates have already set their sights on the final after overcoming reigning Champions Mamelodi Sundowns in the quarter-finals thanks to two last-gasp goals in a nail-biting encounter.
“The players are ready and they are happy to play in the semifinals. It means a lot, not only playing in the semifinals but just qualifying from the group is a great opportunity and we are not going to stop in the semifinals, we pray that God will help us to get to the finals and win the trophy too,” she said.
The second semi-final is an all-North Africa affair between FAR Rabat of Morocco and Masar FC of Egypt.
They are currently guaranteed $300,000 for reaching the semi-finals and they could get as much as &600,000 if they win.
The second-placed team will earn $400,000 while the third-placed team will get $350,000.
