CAFWCL: Edo Queens fail to reach final, lose 3-1 to TP Mazambe

By Harry Awurumibe, Africa’s No.1 Women Football Journalist

Edo Queens’ dream of creating history of their own in the club football both in Nigeria and Africa by qualifying for the final of the 4th edition of CAF Women’s Champions League (CAFWCL) has evaporated like the early morning dews after the team was thrashed 3-1 by Congolese champions Tout Puissant Mazembe (TP Mazembe) at Stade

Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca on Tuesday.

A late minute equalizer by TP Mazembe’s forward Merveille Kanjinga at the dot of 90′ cancelled out Edo Queens lead courtesy of Peace Emem Essien’s 65′ opener which the Moses Aduku tutored team held onto for 25′ of the game before dropping their guard as the match dragged to extra time.

However, the Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) reigning champions crumbled like pack of cards in the first half of the extra time by letting in two more goals including the own goal by defender Florence Folorunsho in the 101′ to make it 2-1 for TP Mazembe while attacker Kasaj Yav made it 3-1 for Mazembe from the penalty spot in the 105+3′.

It was a match Edo Queens could have won if the technical crew did the right things but unfortunately Aduku, like in the previous matches in Morocco has been condemned to shout instructions from the stands, far away from the bench and the 11 players on the pitch.

Unfortunately, for Edo Queens,  TP Mazembe’s female Technical Adviser,

Lamia Boumedhi, a Moroccan whose journey is marked by both her success as a player and her commitment to pushing boundaries as a coach reached her coaching archives to bring out a winning formula against the West African champions who dumped out the defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa in the group stage.

Edo Queens will play the dreaded Third-place match with the loser of the second semi-final clash between AS FAR of Morocco and FC Masar of Egypt in all North African derby at Stade El Abdi in El Jadida, Casablanca on Tuesday .