CAF Women’s Champions League qualifiers : CBE to face Vihiga Queens in semis

The semi final stage is finally set at the on-going 2023 CAF Women’s Champions League qualifiers – CECAFA Zone after Commercial Bank of Ethiopia FC and Buja Queens FC (Burundi) booked the last two places on Thursday.

After their 4-0 win against Yei Joint Stars (South Sudan), the Ethiopia giants finished top of Group A. They will now face  the 2021 Zonal champions Vihiga Queens (Kenya) in the knock out stage.

In the match against Yei Joint Stars, Ariet Odong, Loza Abera, Senayt Bogale Boyzo and Mesay Temesgen Tanga were enough to ensure CBE FC finished top of the group with three wins and one draw.

Birhanu Gizaw Heye, the CBE FC head coach made it clear that they are aware of the strengths of Vihiga Queens because they have played them twice since the tournament started. “We beat them once and lost once at the 2021 edition and we shall now prepare well for them because we must be at our best,” added Heye.

In the second match the start studded Buga Queens from Burundi struggled to beat a highly defensive FAD FC (Djibouti) team 2-1.

The first half ended goalless with the FAD FC goalkeeper Taslim Houssein Abdillahi making  several saves.

In the second half Ruth Ingosi put Buga Queens ahead in the 75th minute, but Nadia Nour leveld matters for FAD FC 10 minutes. As the match looked headed for a draw Kenyan international Topister Situma scored Buga Queens winning goal after 88 minutes.

The semi finals will be played on August 27th with JKT Queens (Tanzania) facing Buja Queens, while Commercial Bank of Ethiopia take on Kenya’s Vihiga Queens FC. The final will be played on August 30th and the winner will represent the CECAFA Zone at the CAF Women’s Champions League 2023 to take place in Cote d’Ivoire in November.