After an absence at the 2023 edition of the CAF Women's Champions League, Egypt will be represented on the biggest stage in African women's club football by rising club FC Masar. Founded under the name Tutankhamun FC in 2019 by a group led by current Al Ahly SC player Taher Mohamed, Masar now operates under the ownership of Right to Dream Egypt and adopted their current identity following a rebrand in late September. In a short time the club have already won three trophies in Egyptian women's football making them a club to watch on their CAF Women's Champions League debut.
How did FC Masar qualify for the competition?
FC Masar secured their place in the CAF Women’s Champions League as runners-up in the UNAF (North African Football Union) qualifiers. The winners of the qualifying competition, Morocco's AS FAR, were selected to represent the Champions League host nation allowing FC Masar to secure their ticket as the UNAF region runners-up.
Their journey began with a dominant 7-0 victory over ASF Sousse of Tunisia. In their second match, they continued their winning streak by defeating Algerian club CF Akbou by a 4-2 score. Although they lost in the final to AS FAR, FC Masar had already secured their qualification spot.
What is FC Masar’s history in the competition?
The 2024 tournament marks FC Masar's debut in the CAF Women’s Champions League following a long period of dominance in Egyptian women's football by Wadi Degla, who participated in the 2021 and 2022 editions of the CAFWCL.
Highlights: FC Masar (then known as Tutankhamun FC) defeats Wadi Degla in the 2024 Egypt Cup final
Domestic Successes
Since their introduction to Egyptian football, FC Masar has made a significant impact by winning the Egypt Cup twice (2023 and 2024) and claiming the Egyptian League title once in just two seasons.
Player to Watch: Sandrine Niyonkuru
Sandrine Niyonkuru, known for her versatility and dynamism, is a standout for FC Masar. Originally from Burundi, she is adept at playing both in attack and midfield. Her scoring prowess was evident in the qualifiers, particularly in the 7-0 win over ASF Sousse, where she netted four goals. Niyonkuru also scored both goals to help FC Masar secure their first trophy with a 2-1 victory in the 2023 Egypt Cup final.
Who is the coach?
Coach Ahmed Ramadan, who successfully led FC Masar through the qualifiers, will continue to guide the team in the CAF Women’s Champions League 2024. Under his leadership, the team scored an impressive 11 goals in their first two games of the qualifying tournament. Ramadan made it clear in comments to the Arabic site of CAF that they intend to pursue the Champions League trophy: "Our goal on the continent is to compete strongly for the African Women's Champions League title."
Schedule
November 10: FC Masar vs Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA)
November 13: FC Masar vs Edo Queens (NGA)
November 16: FC Masar vs CBE (ETH)
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