CAFWCL WAFU-B Zone: USFA defeat AS GNN and advance to semifinals

Burkina Faso’s USFA made a winning start to their campaign in the CAF Women’s Champions League (CAFWCL) qualifying tournament from West Africa’s WAFU-B zone. The Burkinabè side overcame Niger’s AS Garde Nationale (1-0) on Tuesday in Yamoussoukro, a deserved victory that already secures their place in the semifinals while the Nigeriens exit the competition following a second consecutive defeat.

Although USFA showed their superiority in the game, the first half nevertheless fell short of expectations according to head coach Véronique Yonli:

“In the first half, I didn’t really recognise the girls. But one has to admit that in football, the start of a competition is never easy. We were the last team to enter the tournament, so there was a particular kind of pressure,” she explained.

The reaction came after the break, with more intensity and technical accuracy. Striker Salamata Kouanda, wearing the number 9 jersey, scored the only goal of the match in the 89th minute to put her team out of reach.

“Thank God, in the second half they found themselves again. They applied what they had learned during training sessions,” coach Yonli added.

Already qualified, USFA now aim for the top spot in the group in their direct clash with ASEC Mimosas, who also won their opening game.

“We told ourselves that we are the two teams qualified from the group. So, we are going to fight for first place,” declared the coach, both lucid and ambitious.

Meanwhile, AS GNN bow out of the competition at the group stage, just as in the previous edition, following this second defeat. The Nigeriens had earlier lost 2-1 to host club ASEC Mimosas.

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