CAF WCL: Aduku expresses confidence as Edo Queens prepare for Masar clash

Edo Queens head coach, Moses Aduku, is confident ahead of his team’s CAF Women’s Champions League Group B showdown against Egypt’s FC Masar.

Scheduled for 18:00 at Casablanca’s Larbi Zaouli Stadium, this encounter will be a pivotal moment for the Nigerian champions.

Following their impressive 3-0 victory over Central Bank of Ethiopia on Sunday, Edo Queens are in strong form, and a win against Masar could bring them closer to a historic semi-final berth in the competition.

Aduku remains cautious, acknowledging the challenge posed by FC Masar, who come into the match brimming with confidence after their surprising 1-0 victory over the reigning champions, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Aduku encourages his players to remain focused and approach the game with intensity as they aim to strengthen their path to the knockout stages.

“Them defeating the champions has certainly given them confidence, but we are not here to undermine any team. What I have told my team is that every team that is here are potential champions, and we have to play every game like it is a cup final,” Aduku told CAFonline.com.

Speaking after the historic win that sent shockwaves across the continent, FC Masar head coach Ahmed Ramhdan boasted that the victory earned them respect, sending a strong statement of intent to their other Group B opponents.

He attributed the laudable victory to proper analysis of the opponents’ game, which will also help in surmounting the Edo Queens hurdle.

He said, “We all know that they are one of the top two teams in Africa with good players, so we are proud of what we did. We worked really hard for the game, and we knew that it would be a tough game against a good team with great players, but I think the training and our analysis of them helped us understand the game plan that we executed, and we are so happy and proud of the game.”

However, it will be a different kettle of fish against Edo Queens, who easily brushed aside their Ethiopian opponents to go top of Group B. FC Masar are second also with three points but an inferior goal difference.

Edo Queens are the third Nigerian team to feature in the tournament after Rivers Angels in 2021 and Bayelsa Queens in 2022, with the country’s highest finish being a third-place record by the latter.

A win for either side takes them to the last four, while a draw will give Sundowns a qualification fighting chance should they beat CBE in their second group match that will precede the Edo Queens versus FC Mars showdown at Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca, on Wednesday.