Hasaacas stun Rivers Angels to win WAFU B TotalEnergies CAF WCL qualifiers

Hasaacas Ladies pulled off a remarkable feat by defeating favourites Rivers Angles of Nigeria 3-1 on a wildly dramatic final night to win the WAFU ‘B’ TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League qualifiers tournament in Abidjan on Thursday.

The Ghanaians stunned the highly-fancied Angels, at the Stade Robert Champroux in the Ivorian capital, who had been dominant in the competition before the two sides met for the second time in the tournament on a cloudy night.

Striker Veronica Appiah put the Ghanaians into an early lead with a well-timed effort, just at the start of the match, but the Angels hit back seven minutes later through Vivian Ikechukwu goalmouth’s effort.

Defender Perpetual Agyekum scored a stunning free-kick from 30 yards to restore the lead of Hasaacas Ladies four minutes before the break to maintain their hopes.

Azumah Bugre struck with a 20-yard thunderbolt that goalkeeper Whyte Ibubeleye struggled to deal with to complete the spectacular win for the Ghanaian club and secure the historic first title in the maiden women’s clubs championship for the region.

It completed a sweet revenge for Hasaacas, who lost 2-0 to the Nigerians in their first meeting of the tournament, and they were clearly determined to amends for their opening day defeat.

The Sekondi-based team raced into the lead just at the start of the match when attacker Rahman Jafaru controlled a free-kick in the box before her shot ricocheted against the crossbar back into play.

Appiah, who was waiting at the edge of the box, smashed the returning ball into the far post to send the numerous Ghanaian supporters in the stands into raptures.

Angels, who had been tipped by the connoisseurs thanks to their dominant showing prior to Thursday’s match, showed why they were the fans’ favourite.

They pinned the Ghanaians to their half and were rewarded with a free kick near the goal area of Hasaacas which was not competently dealt with by the Ghanaians.

Ikechukwu, who was lurking in the goal area, struck through a forest of legs leaving goalkeeper Faustina Nyamekye bewildered to hand the Angels the equalizer.

Hasaacas should have restored their lead moments later but Doris Boaduwaa made a light work of Angels defenders Mary Saiki and Rofiat Imuran to set Pokuaa Milot up on a one-on-one situation with the Ibubeleye but striker shot feebly into waiting hands of the shot-stopper.

The Nigerian goalkeeper did not have an answer to the thunderous free-kick of dead ball specialist Agyekum, who stunned the Angels from a distance with her swerving kick that went into the top corner to make it 2-1 in the 41st minute.

Hasaacas returned from half-time more confident over their performance on the night. Captain Janet Egyir effectively dealt with some early attacks of Angels as they pressed for the equalizer.

The Nigerian side’s quest for the equalizer permitted Hasaacas to also attack and on 57 minutes Bugre pounced on a poor clearance by Rivers defenders to drive home a left-footed shot into the top corner.

Angels mounted a nervy late attack on the Hasaacas goal area but the Ghanaians held on for the victory with Egyir getting the award for the Woman of the Match.

The two sides will represent WAFU B at the maiden TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League to be played in Egypt later this year.

Earlier in the day Togolese side Amis du Monde defeated USFA of Burkina Faso 2-0 to clinch third place at the tournament.