The head coach of Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) women’s team has said that despite falling out at the group stage, they picked great lessons playing at the CAF Women’s Champions League.

CBE, the CECAFA Women’s Champions League reigning champions lost all their three group matches at the tournament on-going in Morocco.

They opened with a 3-0 defeat to Edo Queens (Nigeria), and suffered a 4-0 defeat to South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns. In the last group match played last Saturday, CBE lost 2-1 to FC Masar (Egypt) with Senaf Wakuma scoring their only goal of the tournament.

Heye Gizaw Birhanu, the CBE coach has made it clear that there are several lessons that his players and even the technical bench take back home. “We were playing in the CAF Women’s Championship League final tournament for the first time and several things were new to us. Playing against top sides in Africa has been a great eye opener for us and we are not the same now,” said Birhanu.

The coach made it clear that with the lessons they have picked from the tournament they will come back a better and improved side.

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 13^th 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).

CECAFA Women’s champions Commercial Bank of Ethiopia WFC will make their debut in the CAF Women’s Champions League on Sunday with a Group B match against Nigeria’s Edo Queens.

The opening Group B match will see reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns face FS Masar (Egypt), and after CBE take to the field at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco.

Heye Gizaw Birhanu, the CBE head coach told Cecafaonline.com that his team is well prepared for the tournament and cannot wait to get started. “We know it will be our first time to play in this tournament, but my players are very motivated to prove a point,” added Birhanu.

The CBE team prepared foor 23 days and also played some friendly matches in Adama City. “We had wanted to play some build-up matches with other teams in the region like Simba Queens of Tanzania, but there was no time since CAf announced the dates for the tournament late,” added the coach.

Senaf Wakuma wo was the team’s top scorer at the Zonal qualifiers recently recovered in time from injury to join the team. The team to be captained by goalkeeper Tarikwa Bergena will however miss the services of Sisay Gebrewahild, last year’s best player in the Ethiopian Women’s Premier League due to injury.

Birhanu also stressed that they are eager to make history in the tournament.

The tournament which runs November 9-23, 2024 in Morocco will see all the eight teams be assured of bagging at least USD 150 000 in prize money.

The winning team will smile away with a cash prize of USD 600 000, the runner-up USD 400 000, and the third placed USD 350 000. The 4^th placed team will take USD 300 000, and the third placed teams in each group USD 200 000 each, while the 4th placed team in each group take USD 150 000 each.

CECAFA representatives Commercial Bank of Ethiopia Women’s team have been drawn to face giants  Mamelodi Sundowns in the same group at the CAF Women’s Champions League to be played in Morocco next month.

During the draw conducted at the Complex Mohamed VI in Salé, Morocco on Friday, Commercial Bank of Ethiopia were placed in in Group alongside Mamelodi Sundwons (South Africa), Totankhamon (Egypt) and Nigeria’s Edo Queens.

The tournament that brings together champions from all the Zones together with the defending champion will take place between November 9-23 in Salé, Morocco.

While the Ethiopian side will be making their debut in the tournament, their opponents Mamelodi Sundowns who have won the title twice in the last three years are also the current holders.

Heye Gizaw Birhanu, the CBE head coach has said although the draw has placed them in a tough group, they will have to prepare and treat every match like a final. “We have no option but to prepare well because we are going to face other champions,” added Birhanu.

The winners will pocket a cash prize of USD 400 000, while the runners-up take home USD 250 000.

Group A: ASFAR (Morocco), Aigles de la Medina (Senegal), TP Mazembe (DR Congo), University of Western Cape (South Africa)

Group B: Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), Totankhamon (Egypt), CBE (Ethiopia), Edo Queens (Nigeria)