CAF WCL: Edo Queens captain Osakpolor targets trophy

Edo Queens captain Efe Osakpolor has one aim in mind heading into the CAF Women’s Champions League, which is to lift the trophy at the end of the tournament that will run from November 9 to 23 in Morocco.

The soft-spoken defender underscored this ambition while sharing her thoughts on their chances at going all the way at the tournament that is in its fourth edition, featuring eight teams.

She said, “We’re ready to make history and show what we’re capable of on the continental stage.

“Preparations for WAFU B were from Nigeria, not when we got there. Our triumph was due to a lot of training—not just training; we have to play according to plans and the philosophy of the coach.

“Our aim at the Champions League naturally is for us to win the title. Rivers Angels, Delta Queens, and Bayelsa Queens have represented Nigeria in previous editions, but we want to be the first Nigerian club to lift the trophy.

“We have seen our group opponents play, but we Edo Queens will not want to repeat the mistakes of others.“ What I want to achieve personally is just for us to win it. I know there are other individual awards like Most Valuable Player and Highest Scorer that are good too, but so going there will be a different atmosphere and a lot of people too. So, it’s going to boost my career because it is going to be a different ball game.

“Nigerians have been supporting us, and I urge Nigerians to keep supporting us, and we are going to do everything within our power to bring the trophy back.”

Edo Queens will begin their campaign in Group B against South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns, FC Masar of Egypt, and Ethiopia’s CBE.

The winners of this edition will automatically qualify for the group stage of the following edition of the tournament.

In 2022, CAF introduced prize money for the eight participants in the group stage for the first time in the competition as follows: Champions: US$400,000; Runners-up: US$250,000; Semi-finalists: US$200,000; 3rd in the group stage: US$150,000; 4th in the group stage: US$100,000.