AS Kigali Women Football Club’s dreams of qualifying for the CAF Women’s Champions League were crushed on Wednesday after losing 1-0 to Vihiga Queens in their second Group B encounter.
The City of Kigali-sponsored team needed a win over Vihiga Queens to keep their chances alive after losing their opener 2-1 to Tanzania’s JKT Queens.
They were unable to score at Omondi Stadium in Uganda, and the Kenyan team scored the game’s lone goal in the 36th minute through Bertha Omita, advancing them to the semifinals.
AS Kigali WFC had multiple chances to tie the game but were unable to do so.
Despite the fact that they still have their last group-stage encounter against Zanzibari team New Generation on Saturday, August 19, the defeat means that the 2022/23 league winner is out of the competition.
S Kigali WFC coach Daniella Niyibimenya blamed her team’s failure on a lack of communication throughout the game.
“We lost communication because the players were yelling at each other on the field.” We tried to rebound in the second half, as seen by the way we finished. I’m delighted the guys gave everything they had on the field. In terms of physical circumstances, some teams were more equipped than us. “We’re better technically, but they’re physically stronger,” remarked Niyibimenya.
JKT Queens, on the other side, defeated New Generation 1-0 in their second group game, due to Ester Mabanza’s 56th-minute goal, which advanced them to the semifinals.
This competition comprised nine teams who had won their respective leagues. The champions will go to the CAF Women’s Champions League, which will be contested from November 5 to 9, 2023, in Ivory Coast.
AS Kigali is competing in CECAFA Qualifiers for the second time, after finishing fourth last year in Tanzania, where the champion was Tanzania’s Simba Queens.