CAFWCLQ: Vihiga Queens take on Buja Queens in third place playoff as JKT, CBE square out in the final
Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 30.08.23. | 10:05
This is the second time that CBE will be gracing the final having lost in the inaugural event to Vihiga Queens, a team they served cold revenge to in the semis of the current edition to book a slot in the final.
Reigning Kenya Women Premier League champions Vihiga Queens will take on Burundi's Buja Queens in the third-place playoff of the CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA Zone qualifiers at the FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru, Uganda, this afternoon.
The match will curtain raise for the final of the third edition of the competition which will see Tanzania’s JKT Queens take on regulars Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE) at the same venue.
This is the second time that CBE will be gracing the final having lost in the inaugural event to Vihiga Queens, a team they served cold revenge to in the semis of the current edition to book a slot in the final.
To reach the final JKT Queens FC brushed aside Buja Queens (Burundi) 3-1 in the first semi final, while Commercial Bank of Ethiopia stopped the 2021 winners Vihiga Queens 2-1 on Sunday.
Going into the final JKT Queens who are making their first time appearance in the competition have maintained a 100% winning run after stopping AS Kigali Women, New Generation, and Vihiga Queens in the group stage, then Buja Queens in the last four while CBE saw off Yei Joint Stars, FAD FC and Buja Queens, and also drew with Kampala Queens 1-1 in the group stage. They battle from a goal down to stop Vihiga Queens at the knock out stage.
Ahead of the final, JKT Queens coach Esther Fredy Chaburuma has made it clear that although they have won all their four matches in the competition, the final is a different stage.
”We are happy to reach the final, but we know facing the Ethiopian team will not be an easy task. We need to prepare well because I believe in my players if we play according to plan,” Chaburuma said.
His counterpart Birhanu Gizaw Heye of CBE says he is excited to reach the second final of the same competition.
"It has not been easy getting to the final because all teams in the competition have really improved. But we are a more experienced side than JKT Queens at this level and we must show that in the final. We shall not take them for granted, but we know what to expect and what to do about it,” Gizaw said.
The champion will represent the CECAFA Zone at the CAF Women’s Champions League to take place later this year in Cote d’Ivoire.
