The 2022 CAF Women’s Champions League proceeded with its second set of fixtures in the group stage on Wednesday and host club ASFAR of Morocco became the first team at the competition to clinch their advancement to the semifinals. ASFAR defeated Zambian club Green Buffaloes 2-1 to stand alone at the top of Group A ahead of their final group stage match. In Wednesday’s earlier match Liberia’s Determine Girls fell 2-0 to Simba Queens of Tanzania, setting up a clash on Saturday between Simba Queens and Green Buffaloes where the Tanzanian club must win to advance to the semifinals.
Green Buffaloes will be disappointed they were not able to claim a point off hosts ASFAR in an even match, particularly after an excellent start. The Zambian club took the lead in the 19th minute when Hellen Chanda got free on the right wing and picked out Ireen Lungu for a low finish past ASFAR goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi.
However it only took ten minutes for ASFAR to respond from the penalty spot after Ibtissam Jraidi was taken down by Green Buffaloes keeper Aisha Mbwana, setting up Morocco national team midfielder Fatima Tagnaout for a well taken spot kick that sent Mbwana the wrong way. The Moroccan club took advantage of mistakes from their opponents to get the three points with sloppy defending leading to Jraidi being taken down inside the penalty area once again around the hour mark, allowing Tagnaout to deliver the match winner with her second spot kick.
The pressure was on Simba Queens to get their first three points against presumed underdogs Determine Girls but the Liberian club showed they were not in Morocco to make up the numbers. Kanties Sayee appeared to put Determine Girls in the lead but was ruled offside midway through a competitive opening 45 minutes.
Simba would come out of the halftime break with more inspiration and the match winner came early in the second half. The Queens broke out in transition in the 53rd minute and substitute Baraka Olaiya provided an excellent weighted pass to find Opa Tukumbuke, who had only Determine Girls goalkeeper Jackie Touah to beat as she slipped her shot past the shot stopper and into the goal.
Highlights are below from both games.
Scores
Simba Queens (Tanzania) 2-0 Determine Girls (Liberia)
ASFAR (Morocco) 2-1 Green Buffaloes (Zambia)
Highlights
ASFAR 2-1 Green Buffaloes
Simba Queens 2-0 Determine Girls
