WAFU-B: ‘Our game plan worked against Athletico’ – Delta Queens’ Tosan Blankson

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

After his side’s 3-2 win over Ivorian champions, Athletico FC, the coach of Delta Queens, Tosan Blankson says his game plan worked wonders in the semi-final match of the 2023 West African Zone B (WAFU-B) Women’s Champions League Qualifiers on Monday.

The Nigerian champions had to come from a goal down before substitute, Mercy Omokwo’s equaliser took the game into extra time.

Two goals in the extra time from Omokwo and captain, Taiwo Afolabi gave the Asaba-based side a 3-1 lead before Joy Sunday reduced the deficit for Athletico.

“We weren’t thinking anything when down by a goal and knew we were going to win because the first half is different from the second half,” Blankson told journalists after the game.

“We had a game plan that worked but towards the end of the additional time, the girls relaxed. They forgot that the game had not ended because it was 3-1. Not until the referee blew the final whistle that the game was finished.

“We don’t put all our eggs in one basket. Football is all 90 minutes and not 45 minutes. When the game was 1-0 for them. We know most of the calibre of players we have in the team. Everybody is a star. Whoever was going to come in the second half was going to make a difference and it happened that way.

“I want to thank Ivorians for giving us a very good fight. We would meet again in Ivory Coast definitely.”

2022/2023 Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership top goal scorer, Omokwo proved to be her team’s joker after coming off the bench to score two goals.

“There was a match we played in this competition.” He added. “Chinaza Agoh came in the second half while Mercy Omokwo started. Today, it was the other way round. With the game plan we have, the finals will come. We don’t know if both of them will start.

“In the first half, they were playing while we were dictating. They only scored that goal and were never dominant in the game. They only got that silly goal in the first half.”

Delta Queens will face Ampem Darkoa of Ghana in the final match on Thursday to determine the champions.

The winner of the final will join holders, ASFAR FC (Morocco), Athletico FC (host and Ivorian champions), and AS Mande (WAFU-A champions) in qualifying for the third edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League.