Edo Queens head coach Kennedy Boboye has praised his players for their disciplined performance after the Nigerian champions defeated ASEC Mimosas Ladies 3-1 to secure a place in the semifinals of the WAFU-B Women’s Champions League Qualifying Tournament.
Sports247 reports that the victory was Edo Queens’ second consecutive Group B win, taking them to six points with one game still to play and guaranteeing their progression to the knockout stage.
Read Also: Edo Queens Beat ASEC Mimosas 3-1 to Maintain Perfect WAFU-B Start | Sports247 Nigeria
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Boboye acknowledged the quality of their Ivorian opponents, describing ASEC Mimosas as a strong side despite the result. Sports247 gathered.
“I have to give it to the girls to have played well against the better side. ASEC Mimosas remains the best side despite the result. They have at least five players from the national team. We can all see the standard of play,” Boboye said.
The coach revealed that he had studied ASEC’s earlier game against Ampem Darkoa and identified their attacking approach as an area Edo Queens could exploit.
“I watched the Ivorian team play against the Ghanaian. The aggression in the team wasn’t up to standard. All we needed was to take our chances. If we had done so, we could have ended up with more goals,” he explained.
With Edo Queens already through to the semifinals, Boboye was asked whether he would rotate his squad for the final group fixture against Ampem Darkoa Ladies.
He maintained that whoever is selected must be ready to execute the team’s instructions.
“Any player called upon must play to instructions and deliver well,” he said.
However, Boboye confirmed that one defender will miss the match after sustaining an injury that required stitches.
The coach also reserved special praise for 16-year-old Oluwakemi Adegbuyi, who has emerged as one of Edo Queens’ standout performers during the tournament.
“I pray she doesn’t have injury in her career. She is already in the U-17 for Nigeria. Her speed and effort put her in the standout performers list despite being 16 years,” Boboye said.
The coach concluded by commending the tournament organisers and calling for greater financial support for women’s football.
“I give kudos to the organisers, and pray for more sponsors for the tournament. It will go a long way for women’s football,” he added.
With semifinal qualification secured, Edo Queens can now approach their final group game with confidence while preparing for the decisive stages of their continental campaign.
