
Edo Queens lost to fellow debutant FC Masar on penalty shootout in the third-placed play-off at the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League on Friday.
After the game ended 0-0 draw in 90 minutes the game went to penalties with FC Masar winning 4-3.
Coach Moses did well to raise a collection of supremely fit and enterprising young ladies who were just seconds away from clinching a podium finish.
Unfortunately it ended up being a case of so close, yet so far.
The brand of football was good but just lacking that X-factors needed to cross the finish line of the podium.
Oddly, local coaches have made me fall in love somewhat with practical football. If the basics are executed competently and expertly within the framework of practical football, it can produce success.
But unsustainable levels of misplaced passes, miscued shots, mistimed crosses and misaligned movements contribute to crushing any hopes of practical football yeilding good fruits.
Not to talk of questionable techniques in executing penalty kicks.
In periods of play in this tournament, failure to do the basics competently was an unfortunate feature in Edo Queens' overall presentation.
But, when they were in their groove, they produced moments of beauty and magic which they did not sustain sufficiently.
In this 3rd place playoff, they couldn't raise the profile of their approach and application to subdue the opposition. It wasn't the fact that they were predictable, predictability laced with quality can still deliver the goods. But, that added quality was missing in their passing routines and efforts at goal.
That said , their efforts and commitments can not be faulted. For these, I say thanks to Edo Queens players and coaching staff. They gave a decent account of themselves.
Their defenders were often dialled in; the midfielders showed grit and raw intensity whilst the wingers were a handful with their pace and power with the centre forwards often fighting for every ball going. Goalkeeper Oyono should benefit from this exposure. But understandable tactical shortcomings proved insurmountable in this tournament.
However, they will all improve due to the huge potentials they showed. We remain very proud of them.
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