Less than 10 hours from now, Nigeria’s flag bearer to the ongoing CAF Women’s Champions League WAFU-B play-off in Cote D’Ivoire, Edo Queens Football Club of Benin (Nigeria), will be on song again today as they file out against the dreaded Hasaacas Ladies FC of Ghana in match day two of the 4th edition of the 2024, CAF Women’s Champions League WAFU-B play-off holding in Cote D’Ivoire Abidjan.
The NWFL Champions spanked their first opponent AS Garde Nationale FC of Niger 5-0 in the opener to put them on the driver’s seat in group B with 3 points.
Today’s encounter will be tough being that Nigeria and Ghana have been on each other’s neck in the round leather game for years. Edo Queens would have to do extra work to be able to beat the muscular Ghanaian side.
The result of their first outting against AS Garde Nationale, have put them on top of the scale making the team a focal point, as other opponents see them as a team to beat.
So now that all eyes are now on Edo Queens to deliver, they have to play like wounded lionesses to be able to fly over their Ghanian counterpart in today’s all important encounter.
Nigeria vs Ghana games have always attracted attention from football pundits across the continent based on the age long rivalries that have exited between the two West African countries.
As long as it is a continental assignment, a winner in this epic clash will be symbolic, in the sense that one has been able to prove supremacy over the other.
Edo Queens is confident that at the end of this continental showpiece they would have done what no other women inter- club side in Nigeria has done.
The likes of Esther Iyange, Suliat Abideen, Emem Essien, Monle Oyono, Folashade Ijamilusi, Alake Kasali, Uroko Valentino and others would do everything to dazzle in today’s clash to justify their jumbo pay and also use the opportunity to see themselves to various Europe and African football scouts who are out to grab sensational players for the already made market abroad.
Victory by the Nigeria representatives in this first stage of the WAFU-B play-off will give them a chance to advance further in the competition.
For coach Moses Aduku, he has on several occasions told his players that his mission to CAF Women’s Champions League is to be the first Nigeria Women Football manager to win the prestigious CAF trophy.
So it is the prayers of everybody in Edo State and Nigeria in general to see this dream come through.
Kickoff time for today’s titanic clash is 04:00 GMT and venue is Stade de la paix de Stadium Bouake.
