By Harry Awurumibe, Africa’s No. 1 Women’s Football Journalist
Rivers Angels
Nigeria’s reigning women’s football league champions, Rivers Angels has been drawn in a tough Group B with Morocco’s ASFAR; Memolodi Sundowns of South Africa and Kenyan Champions, Vihiga Queens just as Wadi Degla of Egypt and AS Mande will clash in the opening match of the first CAF TotalEnergies Women’s Champions League billed for next month.
The groups were revealed on Wednesday following the draw for the final tournament featuring eight clubs from seven CAF recognised zones.
The draw which took place at CAF headquarters in Cairo, was conducted by CAF Director of Competitions, Samson Adamu who was assisted by Nigerian Legend, Perpetua Nkwocha and the captain of Wadi Degla FC and the National Women’s Team of Egypt, Alia Zenouki.
According to CAF, the opening game will feature hosts Wadi Degla FC, twelve times Egyptian champions and AS Mande, WAFU A qualifiers champions and three-time champions of Mali.
CAF Director of Competitions, Samson Adamu posing with African Legend Perpetua Nkwocha before the Draw today in Cairo, Egypt.
Both teams were housed in Group A alongside Malabo King’s FC, winner of the UNIFFAC Qualifiers and champions of Equatorial Guinea League as well as Hasaacas Ladies FC (Ghana), winner of the WAFU B qualifiers and super- powerful house of Ghana.
Group B pits Vihiga Queens – winner of the qualifiers for the CECAFA zone and the Women’s Football League Champions in Kenya, Mamelodi Sundowns – winner of COSAFA qualifiers and three-time champions of South Africa, ASFAR (Morocco) – winner of the UNAF qualifiers as well as Rivers Angels.
Meanwhile, Rivers Angels will have to figure out how they are going to negotiate their way out of Group B which has ASFAR of Rabat as the club is a mini-national team of Morocco with over seven players in the Atlas Lionesses that beat Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon in the just concluded Aisha Buhari Cup in Nigeria.
The same goes to South Africa’s Memolodi Sundowns which is well structured and has the same set up like any European or United States of America (USA) women’s football clubs.
Group A
Wadi Degla FC (Egypt) Hasaacas Ladies FC (Ghana) Malabo King FC (Equatorial Guinea) AS Mandé (Mali)
Group B Vihiga Queens (Kenya) Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies FC (South Africa) ASFAR FC (Morocco) Rivers Angels (Nigeria)
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