Merciless Red- hot Edo Queens FC, the Nigeria representatives to this year’s edition of Confederation of Africa Football Women’s Champions League WAFU-B play-off pipped Ominisports Etincelle of Burkina Faso 1-0 yesterday’s evening in Cote D’Ivoire to top Group B with 9 points to book a place into the semifinals where they will slug it with Inter D’Abidjan on Tuesday.

The Nigeria Women Football League champions, have completed the group stage of the WAFU B CAF Women’s Champions League Qualifiers without dropping a point or conceding a goal.

The Ladies from the ancient City of Benin City, gave good account of themselves in the group stage on Saturday in Abidjan by scoring a total of 10 goals.

They started their champaign in faraway Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire with a 5-0 bashing of AS Garde National of Niger Republic before hitting Hasaacas Ladies from the former Gold Coast – Ghana 3-0 in their second group game. The Ladies from the Land of the Upright man, Omnisports Etincelle couldn’t hold the Godwin Obaseki Queens as they left the field unhappy.

Meanwhile, Ghanaian champions, Hasaacas Ladies, failed in their attempt to secure qualification for the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League despite winning their group game. Hasaacas thrashed Niger’s AS Garde National 6-1 in their final Group B game on Saturday afternoon.

However, the result still leaves them short of a place in the semifinals with second-placed Omnisports Etincelle boasting a superior goal difference after both teams finished on four points each.

Fatoumata Tamboura opened the scoring for the Hasaacas Ladies after over 20 minutes played before Grace Animah and Comfort Owusu scored in quick succession to make it 3-0. As Garde pulled a goal back before the first half came to an end.

After the return from recess, Comfort Owusu scored once again to restore Hasaacas’ three-goal advantage in the game. The Ghanaian side had several opportunities to add to their lead but failed to convert their chances.

In additional time, Animah and Abigail Sakyiwaa found the back of the net to make it 6-1 but could barely change the fortunes of the team as the game ended 6-1.
Hasaacas will now turn their attention to domestic competition after failing to secure a return to the Champions League stage.

In Group A, Inter D’Abidjan booked their place in the semi-finals of the WAFU Zone B CAF Women’s Champions League qualifiers after a remarkable 4-3 comeback victory against Togo’s AS Kozah in their final group match in Bouaké.

The Ivorian side found themselves trailing by three goals at halftime, with AS Kozah dominating the first half through goals from Solim Kadanga, Tatiana Kayaba, and Kpandjapou Gbati.

However, Inter D’Abidjan emerged from the break with renewed determination, launching a spirited comeback led by Esperance Cousso Agbo, who netted a stunning hat-trick.Melissa Sandrine Behinan added a fourth goal, sealing the comeback and ensuring their progression to the next stage.

Despite the defeat, AS Kozah’s Ijeoma Anagha was named Player of the Match, recognizing her influential role in the first-half performance. With this victory, Inter D’Abidjan finished the group stage with three points, securing second place behind Benin’s Ainonvi FC, who topped Group A with six points.

Iner D’Abidjan will now face the ‘Almighty’ Nigeria’s Edo Queens FC, the Group B leaders, in a highly anticipated semi-final clash on Tuesday, with the ultimate goal of qualifying for the main CAF Women’s Champions League tournament later this year.