Brilliant Edo Queens fall short as TP Mazembe pick final ticket

Edo Queens went into yesterday’s semifinals of the ongoing African Women’s Champions League against TP Mazembe of Congo as clear favourites, having beaten defending champions, Mamelodi Sundowns in their way to the last eight.

The Benin-based team, who were seeking to become the first Nigerian team to win the coveted trophy, were imperial in their destruction of Central Bank of Ethiopia in the group stage of the competition. They showed enough guts to come from 0-1 down to beat Mamelodi Sundowns in their last group game at the weekend.

But yesterday against TP Mazembe, they found the Congolese side a hill too steep to climb. Edo Queens started on a bright note, as they took the fight to the Congolese. Their efforts paid off in the 65th minute when Emem Essien capitalised on a defensive blunder to open score for the Nigerians.

Edo Queens held on to the lead and almost crossed the bar, but a lack of concentration in the 90th minute opened the door for Merville Kanjinga to equal scores for TP Mazembe and take the game to extra time.

Buoyed by their resurgence, TP Mazembe did not let go as they took the fight to Edo Queens. The Congolese foray into Nigeria’s defence paid off in the 101st minute when Comfort Folorunso scored an own goal to put TP Mazembe ahead.

The East Africans took the game beyond Edo Queens in the 108th minute through Marlene Kasaj’s penalty kick. The defeat ended Edo Queens desire on the trophy, but they still have the bronze match to play against the loser of the second semifinal between ASFAR of Morocco and Masar of Egypt.