By Victor Kanayo
Two club representatives for Nigeria and Ghana – Bayelsa Queens and Anpem Darkoa have won their opening matches in the ongoing WAFU-B Women’s CAF Champions League qualifier in Cote D’Ivoire.
Bayelsa Queens sent a warning signal to teams in the competition with their resounding 5-0 victory over the Togolese side Athleta Ladies, while Ampem Darkoa secured a 3-0 win over USFA of Burkina Faso to open their group encounter.
For Nigerian side, two goals in the first half and three in the second half were all they needed to defeat their Togolese opponent at the Stade d Yamoussoukro on Matchday one.
Bayelsa Queens started the game and pressed for the early goal which came when Miracle Joseph curled in a beautiful shot from the left side to put the Prosperity Girls in front on 3 minute, before the first goal Kasali Alake made a faulty back pass in the second minute but for the brilliance and alertness of goalkeeper Ange Bawou in goal for Bayelsa Queens it would have been the opener.
Etim Edidiong got the second goal in the 5th minute after which it became a ding-dong affairs as both teams tried to score and in the tenth minutes of play. Captain of Bayelsa Queens FC, Igwe Uzoamaka made another faulty back pass that Joy Igbazenda of Athleta FC having only Bawou to beat played wide.
The first half ended with Bayelsa Queens FC up by two goals to nil.
The Prosperity Girls started the second half the way they finished the first but were unable to get the third goal. But got rewarded on the 65th minutes when Etim Edidiong scored a beautiful goal to make it three nil.
Edidiong Etim scored two more goals in the 77 and 80 minutes to complete the annihilation of Athleta FC.
The emphatic win took Bayelsa Queen to the top of the group of their rival Ampem Darkoa Ladies via goal difference.
Bayelsa Queens will now battle Ampem Darkoa in matchday two on Tuesday.
