Edo Queens target CAF WCL bronze medal

Edo Queens’ head coach, Moses Aduku, has expressed confidence that his team will end the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League on a high note as they prepare to face Masar FC of Egypt in the third-place match on Friday.

After a disappointing 3-1 semi-final loss to DR Congo’s TP Mazembe, Edo Queens’ hopes of reaching the final were dashed.

The Nigerian champions had led 1-0 until the latter stages of the match before succumbing to the defeat.

Despite this setback, Aduku remains optimistic, stressing that his team is focused on securing a consolation prize in the tournament’s final phase.

“Well, so far so good. We want to thank God for the place we found ourselves. We are not down and out yet, we are fighting for third place,” Aduku said in the pre-match interview.

“Yes, all the players were down, they were disappointed because it was not the result we wanted. The match was almost over, we lost concentration and when we ended the game the entire team was down but, of course, as a coach I had to talk to them.

“Today, if you come to camp, to our hotel you will not even know that we lost a game. The mindset of players is positive now and the energy is good, therefore, I know we are good and we are ready for the third-place game”, Aduku said.

This marks the first time no Nigerian team has reached the final of the competition, now in its fourth edition

“I am expecting my girls to go all out and see how they can win the bronze medal.”

Today’s game will be the second meeting between Edo Queens and Masar FC in the tournament, having battled to a goalless draw in the group stages.

“I know it’s not going to be an easy one, the Egyptian team is also good. The last time we played them it was goalless but I believe goalless will not give us a bronze. So, we need to go all out to win. We are putting finishing touches in our training and we go out to finish the battle”.

The NWFL champions will hope to emulate Bayelsa Queens’ third-place finish in the 2022 edition, and that will see them pocket $350,000 in participation fees while the winner gets $600,000.