CBE set for a debut to remember
Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) are braced for their maiden CAF Women Champions League group games in Morocco at the upcoming 2024 edition. CBE topped the CECAFA zonal qualifying competition back in August on home soil in Addis Ababa. The club, a joint record Ethiopian Women's Premier League champion, qualified for the biggest women's club football competition in Africa on their fourth attempt.
CBE previously lost two qualifying finals in 2021 and 2023. The Bankers also lost at the semi final stage in the 2022 CECAFA region qualifiers. Their fourth attempt was not futile as they secured the regional championship by winning each of their five games.
In the 2023/24 season CBE were crowned champions of Ethiopia for the fourth time in a row. They are now the joint record champions with now defunct club Dedebit FC. Hawassa City, Mechal and Ethio Electric mounted challenges against CBE but nonetheless the latter came out victorious.
The road to Morocco was smooth
CBE won their qualifying group. They beat Kenyan Police Bullets, Rayon Sports of Rwanda and South Sudanese outfit Yei Joint Stars.
In the semi final they needed a last gasp goal from Embet Asfaw to knock out resilient Ugandan club Kawempe Muslim Ladies 2-1.
They beat Kenyan Police Bullets 1-0 to lift the trophy and head to Morocco for a debut CAF Women Champions League appearance.
Video: CBE defeats Kenyan Police Bullets in the CECAFA final to secure qualification for the Champions League (Video Credit: KBC Sports YouTube)
An Ethiopian football powerhouse
CBE was founded in 2012 after the state owned bank bought a club named Central College. The club dominated the Ethiopian women league together with archrival Dedebit for a decade.
With huge financial banking from the state owned bank, CBE brought in the biggest names in Ethiopian women's football. This helped the club to achieve six league titles including the last four campaigns going back to the 2020/21 season. The club is seen as providing the backbone of the Ethiopian women's national team.
Ethiopia last qualified for Women's Africa Cup of Nations in 2012 and most of the squad members were from either CBE or Dedebit FC.
The manager at the helm
CBE is coached by former Ethiopia women's national team coach Birhanu Gizaw. Gizaw has spent almost 12 seasons with CBE collecting 25 major titles in his career.
The former trader turned football coach guided CBE to six league titles and many Ethiopian Cup championships.
CBE head coach Birhanu Gizaw (center) is the tactician responsible for the club's recent dominance in Ethiopian women's football
Gizaw is credited for assembling a strong attacking team that can score goals. He has turned players like Loza Abera, who now plays for U.S. outfit DC Power FC, and Senaf Wakuma into stars during his tenure.
Key Player: Senaf Wakuma
The former Adama City attacker joined CBE from Mechal FC. She ended the 2023/24 season with 28 goals as she won the award for top scorer. She also produced six goals in the CECAFA zonal qualifying competition including a last gasp goal against Kenyan Police Bullets in CBE's 1-0 victory in the final.
Wakuma is a very fluid attacker and goal scoring is her best attribute. She links up well with the midfielders and can be deployed as central forward or she can play on the flank. She is strong in aerial duels with some of her goals coming from headers. Wakuma is a player who can find spaces and CBE will rely on her to make the difference.
The veteran Senait Bogale is also a player who is trusted by Gizaw to make much more difference.
CBE star Senaf Wakuma was a goal scoring machine during the club's victorious domestic and CECAFA campaigns
CBE sets a respectable objective
Ahead of their CAF Women Champions League debut CBE are very cautious. They are expected to be amongst the underdogs at the final tournament in Morocco.
Gizaw states the plan is to qualify out of Group B. The group is consists of holders Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa, FC Masr from Egypt and Edo Queens for Nigeria.
“Our first aim was to qualify and we have done that. Now the goal is qualify from the group” Gizaw stated.
With some key players injured and rushing to be fit, Gizaw is not worried about the possibility of an early elimination. Sisay Gebewehad is still trying to get fit. The loss of three key players via transfers to Tanzanian club Young Africans is also another headache. Aregash Kalsa, Nibogne Yen and Ariyat Odong have all left CBE for Tanzania.
Gizaw believes the level differs but they are ready to show the best of East African women's football. He called Group B a "group of death" but indicated his charges are mentally ready to challenge and make history.
Schedule
Group B
10 November 2024 18:00: CBE vs Edo Queens (Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca)
13 November 2024 15:00: Mamelodi Sundowns vs CBE (Larbi Zaouli Stadium, Casablanca)
15 November 2024 18:00: FC Masar vs CBE (Ben M'Hamed El Abdi Stadium, El Jadida)
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