2024 WAFU-B Women’s Champions League: Edo Queens crush AS Garde in opener

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership champions, Edo Queens, thrashed AS Garde Nationale from the Niger Republic 5-0 to start their campaign at the 2024 West Africa Zone B (WAFU-B) Women’s Champions League Qualifiers on an impressive note in Cote D’Ivoire on Sunday.

A brace from Emem Essien lifted Moses Aduku’s side to a comprehensive win over the Niger Republic champions.

Essien scored the opener with a wonderful shot in the 36th minute before Suliat Abideen made it 2-0 in the additional minutes of the first half.

A well-executed direct free kick by Blessing Ilivieda in the 59th minute increased the lead to three.

Two more goals from Essien, which was her second of the game,e, and Esther Chioma Moses completed the rout.

The Nigerian representative moved to the top of Group B with three points after Hasaacas Ladies (Ghana) and (Etincelle Burkina Faso) played out a 0-0 draw in the other group game.

Edo Queens’ next game will be against former winners of the WAFU-B Women’s Champions League Qualifiers, Hasaacas Ladies.

This will be the first time that Edo Queens will be participating in the WAFU-B Women’s Champions League, while Hasaacas Ladies is making a return after missing out on the last two editions.