MATCH STATS: FC Masar clash with AS FAR in Group A at CAF Women's Champions League

FC Masar and AS FAR will meet for a second successive edition at the CAF Women’s Champions League when they open their Group A campaign on Saturday at Suez Canal Stadium in Ismailia (kick-off 18:00 local time / 16:00 GMT)..

The sides previously faced each other in the semi-final of the 2024 edition. AS FAR won that encounter 2–1 on 19 November 2024 in El Jadida. Safa Banouk opened the scoring in the 12th minute, Maya Ehab equalised from the penalty spot in second-half stoppage time, but Doha El Madani netted a dramatic winner in the ninth minute of added time.

El Madani, who finished as top scorer with six goals at the last edition, both scored and assisted when AS FAR triumphed over Masar in 2024.

Masar become the second team AS FAR have faced in consecutive editions, following their three consecutive clashes with Mamelodi Sundowns (2021–2023).

Masar are also the fourth side AS FAR have met on multiple occasions, alongside Sundowns, Ampem Darkoa (twice in 2023), and TP Mazembe (twice in 2024).

For Masar, AS FAR will be just the second team they have faced more than once, after meeting Edo Queens twice in 2024.

This will also be the first time AS FAR have faced a host club.

 

Masar – Key Statistics

·       Join Wadi Degla on two appearances in the final, the joint most by an Egyptian team.

·       Finished third in their debut tournament in 2024.

·       Defeated defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns 1–0 in their opening game of 2024.

·       Drew 0–0 with Edo Queens and beat CBE 2–1 to reach the knockout stage before losing to AS FAR in the semi-final.

·       Drew 0–0 again with Edo Queens before winning the third-place match on penalties.

·       First Egyptian team to progress beyond the group stage; Wadi Degla failed to do so in 2021 and 2022.

·       Yet to win or lose a match by more than a single goal.

·       Have been involved in two 0–0 draws, both against Edo Queens in 2024.

·       Scored four goals in five matches at the 2024 edition.

·       Sandrine Niyonkuru was their top scorer with two goals.

 

AS FAR – Key Statistics

·       Competing at their fifth CAF Women’s Champions League finals.

·       The only team to have qualified for all five editions.

·       Winners in 2022 and runners-up in 2024.

·       Finished third in 2021 and 2023.

·       Played 20 matches at the finals, more than any other team.

·       Have progressed beyond the group stage in all four previous editions.

·       Overall record at the finals: P20 W15 D1 L4 GF33 GA12.

·       Only one drawn match at the finals, a 0–0 result with Mamelodi Sundowns in their final group game of 2021.

·       Their last 17 matches at the finals have all produced a winner.

·       Opening match record: P4 W3 D0 L1.

·       Won three of their four tournament openers, 3–0 vs Rivers Angels (2021), 1–0 vs Simba Queens (2022), and 3–0 vs Aigles de la Medina (2024).

·       Lost their 2023 opener 2–1 to Ampem Darkoa after taking the lead.

·       Have nine wins from 12 group matches, the joint-most alongside Mamelodi Sundowns.

·       Failed to win only three group matches: defeats to Vihiga Queens (2021) and Ampem Darkoa (2023), and a draw with Sundowns (2021).

·       On a five-game group stage winning run; last group loss was their 2023 opener.

·       Another victory would equal Sundowns’ record of six consecutive group stage wins.

·       Scored in their last nine group matches.

·       Doha El Madani was top scorer at the last edition with six goals.

·       El Madani and Ibtissam Jraidi (2022) are the only AS FAR players to score six goals in a single edition.

·       Fatima Tagnaout has scored in three previous editions (2021–2023), with a total of five goals.

·       Goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi has appeared in all 20 of AS FAR’s matches at the finals.

·       Er-Rmichi has kept 11 clean sheets, the most by any goalkeeper in the competition.