CAF WOMEN'S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUALIFIERS
D-Day for semi finals in CECAFA Women’s Champions League qualifier
It is the D-day as the semi-finals take centre stage today in the on-going CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA qualifier 2024 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
This morning the 2022 champions Simba Queens from Tanzania will take to the field first to battle Kenya Police Bullets at the Abebe Bikila Stadium. The second match will see Commercial Bank of Ethiopia WFC facing Kawempe Muslim Ladies from Uganda.
Going into the final Simba Queens who boost of the quality and experienced players will take nothing to chance as their coach Juma Ramadhani Ngunda has made it clear they are here to win the trophy.
After winning two matches, drawing once and netting 10 goals, Simba Queens will expect their attack of Jentrix Shikangwa Milimu, Elizabeth Wambui and Vivian Aquino Corazone Odhiambo to shine where it matters most.
But Beldine Lilian Acheing Odemba, the Kenya Police Bullets head coach has also made it clear that they have prepared accordingly for the semi-final. “It is our first time to play in this tournament and we are happy to be in the semis. We know Simba Queens is an experienced side, but we have prepared for them,” added Odemba.
The Kenyan champions who only scored two goals in their three matches in the group stage will hope that their attack of Purity Anyetu and Rebecca Akinyi Okwaro find their scoring touch.
The second match promises to be yet another tight contest as the home side Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) who won all their group matches face the highest scoring side in the group stage of the tournament Kawempe Muslim Ladies.
Birhanu Gizaw Heye, the CBE head coach has made it clear they must take their chances because the semi-final stage is very different. “My team is motivated to go all out and get a good result to qualify for the final,” added the coach. Senaf Wakuma Zenaf Demise who is one of the leading scorers together with Aregash Kalsa Tadesse will lead the CBE goal hunt.
Hadija Nandago who has also netted five goals in the tournament so far together with Agnes Nabukenya and skipper Phinah Nabulime are expected to play key roles for the Kawempe Muslim Ladies team. Ayub Khalifa Kiyingi, the Kawempe Muslim Ladies coach says they have prepared accordingly for the semi-final because they know what to expect playing against a home side.
The play-off and final of the Zonal qualifier will take place on August 29th at the Abebe Bikila Stadium. The qualifier attracted eight teams from Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Tanzania and Djibouti.