Tanzanian club Simba Queens are making a splash at their first ever participation at the CAF Women’s Champions League, keeping their tournament alive on Saturday with a 2-0 victory over Zambia’s Green Buffaloes. Simba are through to the semifinals following the crucial win which was a “do or die” affair where earning three points was the only way the CECAFA region representatives could advance. They will join Group A winners and Moroccan host club ASFAR who confirmed a perfect run through the group stage with a 2-0 defeat of Liberia’s Determine Girls.
After a first half that lacked opportunities for either side the tension continued to build between Simba and Green Buffaloes with the Zambian club knowing a draw was all they needed to advance. However in the 64th minute the massive breakthrough came for Simba when Fatima Issa’s cross from the right flank picked out substitute Asha Djafari for a header past Green Buffaloes keeper Aisha Mbwana. Simba continued their strong play and finished off the victory in the 79th minute after Opah Clement ran onto a flicked on goal kick and calmly finished past Mbwana.
Both teams’ fates were determined in the other Group A matchup between ASFAR and Determine Girls with first place clinched for the Moroccan club and nothing Determine Girls could do to avoid elimination. After seeing an apparent goal disallowed due to a foul in the first half the hosts took the lead through 17-year-old Oumaima Harcouch, who applied a simple finish from a low cross soon after the break. A creative penalty kick attempt appeared to double ASFAR’s lead but was disallowed before the Moroccans finally did get their second late on when Ibtissam Jraidi volleyed in a lofted cross from Ghizlane Chhiri.
Highlights from the Group A finales are below.
Group A Scores
ASFAR (Morocco) 2-0 Determine Girls (Liberia
Simba Queens (Tanzania) 2-0 Green Buffaloes (Zambia)
Highlights
Simba Queens 2-0 Green Buffaloes
ASFAR 2-0 Determine Girls
