Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s envoys in the CAF Women’s Champions League, Simba Queens, today meet Zambia’s Green Buffaloes in their final group stage match at the Marrakech Stadium in Marrakech, Morocco.
The match has been scheduled to kickoff at 10pm Tanzanian time and the two teams need victory in order to qualify for the knockout stage.
As per the standings, Simba Queens are placed third with three points while Green Bufalloes are second with three points, but they have good goal average. Green Buffaloes have a three goal difference while Simba have one goal difference.
FAR Rabat Women have already qualified for the knockout stage after winning both matches to collect six points. The host team will face Determine Women at the same time.
Qualifying for the semi-final stage will make Simba Queens secure U$ 200,000 dollars (Sh466 million) from CAF as part of the prize money of the tournament.
Simba Queens head coach Charles Lukula said all his players are in good shape ahead of the encounter and are targeting victory. He said his players have promised to fight hard in order to win today’s match and qualify for the knockout stage.
“It is a crucial match to us and we need victory to qualify for the knockout stage.
“It is going to be tough, but we have the mission and vision of making all football fans in Tanzania happy by defeating the Zambians,” said Lukula.
Simba Queens are featuring in the tournament for the first time. The defending champion are the Mamelodi Sundowns Women’s team.
Meanwhile, Bayelsa Queens bounced back from a disappointing opening defeat to beat TP Mazembe 2-0 in their second CAF Women’s Champions League group stage game in Marrakech on Thursday.
First half goals from Miracle Joseph and Chinyere Igbomalu were all Domo Okara’s ladies needed to see off their Central African rivals and keep their Women’s Champions League semi-final hopes alive at the Grand Stade de Marrakech.
Bayelsa made a fine start to the duel as Igbomalu was brought down inside the box as early as the opening 30 seconds of the match for Joseph to convert the penalty and put the Nigerians in front.