2024 CAF Women’s Champions League: Edo Queens take charge of Group B with win over CBE FC

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership champions, Edo Queens kicked off their campaign at the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League with a 3-0 win against Commerical Bank of Ethiopia FC in Casablanca on Sunday.

In their maiden appearance at the fourth edition of the tournament, Moses Aduku’s side announced their arrival in the competition with a convincing win.

West Africa Zone B (WAFU-B) top goal scorer, Emem Essien scored the opener in the fifth minute from a sweet finish from Folashade Ijamilusi’s cross.

The Benin City-based side could not add to their advantage in the first half despite a dominating display.

It took Ijamilusi’s goal in the 54th minute to double the lead for the Benin Arsenals.

Substitute Chukuamaka Osigwe converted the third goal with a wonderfully taken left-footed strike inside the box.

The win gave Edo Queens an early lead in Group B with three points and a superior goal difference ahead of FC Masar (Egypt).

FC Masar had earlier stunned holders, Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, 1-0 thanks to Sandrine Niyonkuru’s first-half penalty.

Edo Queens will hope to book a place in the semi-final against FC Masar with a win in their next group game.

The team is the third Nigerian side to feature in the CAF Women’s Champions League after Rivers Angels (2021) and Bayelsa Queens (2022).