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Writer's pictureAndrew Olsson

CAFWCL Preview: Aigles de la Médina (SEN)




For the first time at the CAF Women's Champions League, Senegal will be represented at the competition with Aigles de la Médina flying the flag for the West African nation. Compared to their fellow competitors, the club based in the area of Dakar has a long history and their resurgence to the top of Senegalese women's football was followed up by qualification for the CAFWCL from the WAFU-Zone A region. With formidable teams making up Group A, Aigles have a difficult task ahead of them to find success in the competition but must not be counted out.


How did they qualify?


Aigles came out on top in a fiercely contested qualifying competition in WAFU-Zone A in which five clubs competed for one spot in the finals of the 2024 CAFWCL. Only three points separated the bottom club from the top where Aigles finished ahead of past CAFWCL participants AS Mandé of Mali as well as Liberia's Determine Girls. A comeback 2-1 victory on the final day against Determine Girls was just enough for Aigles to secure their ticket to Morocco.




History


Les Aigles have seven trophies in Senegalese football with three league triumphs and four titles in the Coupe du Sénégal féminine, the national cup competition in Senegal. 2024 has truly been a historic year for the club after securing a domestic double by winning both the league and the cup in addition to their continental qualification.


Video: Aigles de la Médina defeat Jappo Olympique de Guédiawaye in the final of the Coupe du Sénégal to confirm a domestic double (Credit: Radiodiffusion Télévision Sénégalaise)






Head Coach: Mbayang Thiam




Another strong talent in the coaching ranks of African women's football, Thiam is the architect of a brilliant 2024 not only from her club duties with Les Aigles but also for her nation. Thiam led the Senegal under-20 women's national team to glory at the 2024 WAFU-Zone A U-20 Women's Cup where the Lionesses won the competition without conceding a goal in all five of their matches.


Thiam is the face of determination for Les Aigles in Morocco and despite the strong teams that her team will face in Group A, there is no fear from their coach: "We are aiming for the semi-final. Given the quality of the team and the commitment of the players, we can say that appetite comes from playing. They are now convinced that all this is possible," said Thiam to CAF Online ahead of the competition.


Key Player: Ngouye Sarr




Defense is the strength of Les Aigles and Ngouye Sarr is the anchor and leader. The captain of the club, the central defender accumulates interceptions and is not afraid to be aggressive. Les Aigles also depend on Sarr to be the chief distributor out of the defense when attempting to get the ball up the pitch. A winner of five domestic cups in her home country, Sarr will not be intimidated by the highest stage of African women's club football.


Schedule


Group A


November 9: v. AS FAR (MAR)

November 12: v. UWC Ladies (RSA)

November 15: v. TP Mazembe (COG)

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