CAF WCL: Edo Queens reach semi-final after dramatic win over Sundown

Edo Queens have qualified for the semi-final of the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League. 

The team defeated South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundown Ladies with two late goals to seal a 2-1 victory in their final group game on Saturday.

The 2023/24 Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) champions scored two goals after 90 minutes of the intense game at the Stade Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca, Morocco.

Edo Queens needed victory from the match to qualify out of Group B. Despite their emphatic 3-0 win over Commercial Bank of Ethiopia FC in their first game, a goalless draw against Egypt’s FC Masar in their second game put the ladies in a precarious position.

But the South Africans struck first in the 24th minute through Melinda Ngadiete. Edo Queens squandered numerous chances in search of a response.

As the game crept past the 90-minute mark, the NWFL champions’ persistence paid off. A pinball situation inside the South African goal area led to the ball falling kindly for Emem Essien with the open post. The Edo Queens skipper stabbed the ball into the net, and the entire team wheeled away in celebration.

In the 11th minute of added time, the Nigerian club grabbed the unlikely winner and completed a dramatic comeback when Mary Mamudu rolled the ball into the net.

Edo Queens become the first Nigerian side to qualify beyond the group stage of the CAF Women’s Champions League.

The team will face TP Mazembe Ladies in the semi-final on Tuesday.