Etincelle dazzle in six-goal thriller; Edo Queens dominate Hasaacas Ladies
Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire (PANA) - The WAFU Zone B Women's Champions League (WCL) qualifiers witnessed a goal-fest on Wednesday as A.O. Etincelle of Burkina Faso and Nigeria's Edo Queens recorded emphatic victories in their respective Group B matches.
At the Stade de Bouaké annex, A.O. Etincelle delivered a masterclass performance, overwhelming AS Garde of Niger with a resounding 6-1 victory, CAF online reported.
The Burkinabe side's attack was spearheaded by the impressive Mounifatou Helbi, who opened scoring with a sublime curling effort from outside the box.
Helbi then turned provider, setting up Adama Congo for the second goal before the interval.
The second half saw A.O. Etincelle capitalise on defensive errors, with Helbi and Sawadogo Aisha expanding the lead.
Despite a brief moment of hope for AS Garde when Rahina Moussa Hassane pulled one back, Deborah Guira's late brace ensured A.O. Etincelle recorded the tournament's biggest win to date.
In the day's other fixture, Ghana's Hasaacas Ladies suffered a setback in their campaign, falling to a 3-0 defeat against a clinical Edo Queens side from Nigeria.
After a goalless first half, the Nigerian outfit turned up the pressure with Player of the Match Emem Peace Essien netting twice in quick succession.
Edo Queens' captain Suliat Abideen then sealed the victory with a spectacular strike in the closing minutes.
This result puts Edo Queens in a commanding position atop Group B with maximum points from two matches, setting up an intriguing final group game against A.O Etincelle.
Meanwhile, Hasaacas Ladies' hopes of progression hang by a thread as they prepare to face AS Garde in their last group fixture.
The day's matches have set the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the group phase.
The previous day, early goals propelled Ainonvi FC to semi-finals in a WAFU B Qualifier
Benin's Ainonvi FC booked their place in the semi-finals after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Togolese side, AS Kozah, in their second Group A encounter on Tuesday.
The match, played under sweltering conditions, saw Ainonvi FC assert their dominance early on, with Dossi Germaine Honfo breaking the deadlock in just the third minute.
The Benin side doubled their advantage shortly after, as Faridatou Ligali rose highest to power home a header in the 12th minute.
Despite controlling much of the possession in the latter stages, AS Kozah struggled to penetrate Ainonvi's resolute defence. Their best chance to get back into the game came from the penalty spot, but Tatiana Kayab's effort was comfortably saved by Ainonvi goalkeeper Sauroakatou Alassane.
AS Kozah's persistence finally paid off in stoppage time when Kpanjapou Gbati showcased her pace and composure to slot home a consolation goal. However, it proved too little too late for the Togolese side.
Chinwe Akabile was named player of the match for her tireless runs down the right flank, constantly threatening the AS Kozah defence throughout the encounter.
The result sees Ainonvi FC sitting pretty atop Group A with a perfect six points from two matches, guaranteeing their progression to the semi-finals.
AS Kozah, meanwhile, face an uphill battle to secure the second qualifying spot.
They must overcome tournament hosts Inter Abidjan in their final group game, with the Ivorian side currently on one point from their opening fixture.
-0- PANA VAO/MA 15Aug2024
