CAF Women's Champions League
CBE coach Birhanu still optimistic after opening defeat
The head coach of Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) has said that he is still optimistic of the team getting some positive results in the on-going CAF Women’s Champions League tournament in Morocco.
Heye Gizaw Birhanu’s team made a losing start falling 3-0 to Edo Queens (Nigeria) in their Group B opening match played at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca on Sunday.
The Nigerian side also making their debut in the tournament like CBE scored through Emem Essien, Folashade Ljamilusi and Chukwuamaka Osigwe.
Birhanu said that playing their first match in the tournament was a big stage for most of his players which resulted to some errors. “We lost the match, but also failed to take the few scoring opportunities we created,” added the CBE coach.
He further explained that after losing the opening match they are more than determined to prove a point in the remaining two group matches against two time champions Mamelodi Sundowns and FC Masar.
The defeat leaves CBE bottom of the log, while Egypt’s FC Masar who shocked Mamelodi Sundowns in their first game are second on the log and Edo Queens top.
“We have taken some lessons from the opening match and we are going to fix our challenges ahead of the next two group matches. My players are still very confident and determined to deliver,” added the CBE coach Birhanu.
The CECAFA Women’s champions will return to action on November 13th against Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), and complete with the last group match against FC Masar three days later.
The best two teams from each group will automatically qualify for the semi-final stage. The teams in Group A include; AS FAR (Morocco), TP Mazembe (DR Congo), University of Western Cape (South Africa) and Aigles de la Medina (Senegal).