Acting General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme MON, has charged Edo Queens and the four Nigerian clubs competing in this weekend’s CAF inter-club competitions to give their best and ensure Nigeria’s flag flies high on the continent.
Ikpeme expressed confidence in the ability of the teams to rise to the occasion, while acknowledging the quality and determination of the opponents they will face across the various competitions.
Edo Queens, the 2024 WAFU-B Women’s Champions League champions, will battle Ghanaian side Ampem Darkoa for the regional title in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on Saturday. The winner will secure qualification for this year’s CAF Women’s Champions League finals.
In the CAF Champions League, Enugu Rangers and Rivers United will begin their continental campaigns in the first preliminary round. Rivers United will travel to Abidjan to face FC San Pedro of Côte d’Ivoire, while Enugu Rangers will host SOBEMAP FC of Benin Republic at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s representatives in the CAF Confederation Cup, Shooting Stars Sports Club and El-Kanemi Warriors, will also be in action in first preliminary round, first-leg fixtures.
Shooting Stars will welcome Tunisia’s CS Sfaxien to the MKO Abiola Sports Arena, while El-Kanemi Warriors will confront Deportivo Nacional of Guinea at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne.
“I have no doubt in the capacity of each of the teams flying Nigeria’s flag this weekend to make the country proud. However, it will not be easy, as they will be facing opponents who are equally well-prepared and ambitious.
“Edo Queens have done remarkably well to reach the final, and I believe they have enough quality, determination and experience to overcome Ampem Darkoa and bring the trophy back to Nigeria.
“Rangers and Rivers United also have a responsibility to begin a new chapter for Nigeria in the CAF Champions League, a competition that a Nigerian club has not won in over two decades.
“Shooting Stars and El-Kanemi Warriors must equally approach their respective matches with confidence, focus and positive energy. This is an opportunity for our clubs to begin the journey towards restoring Nigeria to the forefront of African club football,” Ikpeme stated.
Edo Queens have enjoyed an impressive run in the WAFU-B Women’s Champions League. They opened their campaign with a commanding 7-0 victory over AS Garde Nationale of Niger Republic before defeating ASEC Mimosas of Côte d’Ivoire 3-1.
They subsequently suffered a narrow 1-2 defeat to Ampem Darkoa in their final group-stage encounter.
The Nigerian champions bounced back strongly in the semi-finals on Wednesday, thrashing hosts USFA of Burkina Faso 5-1 to book their place in Saturday’s final against familiar opponents Ampem Darkoa at the Stade August 4 in Ouagadougou.
With continental action set to take centre stage this weekend, the NFF has urged all five Nigerian representatives to show character, determination and the fighting spirit required to secure positive results for the country.
