Nigeria Football Federation President, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, has commended the fighting spirit of Nigerian champions Edo Queens in defeating defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns 2-1 on Saturday night to reach the semi-finals of the CAF Women’s Champions League in Morocco.
Edo Queens, who won the Nigerian title for only the first time last season, went ahead 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 lucrative continental competition.
“The NFF and the Nigerian 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,” Gusau said on Sunday.
“The ladies exhibited the much-talked-about Nigerian 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 the ginal of every edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League since the competition began 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 Edo Queens level, before Mary Mamudu sealed the famous win deep into stoppage time.
The victory handed the Nigerian champions 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 Moroccan time, before AS FAR of Morocco face 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.
