The head coach of Nigeria’s champions, Edo Queens, is optimistic that his team will beat rivals FC Masar of Egypt in the third-place match of the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League (CAFWCL) to claim the bronze medal, after losing the chance to finish second or lift the trophy in Morocco.
Speaking on Thursday ahead of the crucial match against Masar, a confident Aduku acknowledged the tough task facing his team but insisted that they are not out of the competition yet and will fight to the last.
He said: “Well, so far so good. We want to thank God for the position we have found ourselves in.
We are not down and out yet. It’s a football game—sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. But we are not down, we are not out yet; we are fighting for third place.
“So, by tomorrow (Friday), I am expecting my girls to go all out and see how they can win the bronze medal.
“I know it’s not going to be easy. The Egyptian team is also a good team. The last time we played them, it was goalless, but I believe a goalless draw will not give us the bronze.
“So, definitely, we need to go all out to win. We are putting the finishing touches on our training this afternoon, and we will go out tomorrow to finish the battle.
Asked how he is motivating his players to forget the disappointment of losing to TP Mazembe in the semi-final and be ready for the losers’ match, Aduku said that although they were dejected after the loss, he has been able to pep-talk the players to focus on the match ahead.
“Yes, all the players were down; they were disappointed because it was not the result we wanted.
The match was almost over, we lost concentration, and when the game ended, the entire team was down. But, of course, as a coach, I had to talk to them.
“If you come to camp, to our hotel, you wouldn’t even know that we lost a game. The mindset of the players is positive now, and the energy is good. Therefore, I know we are good and ready for today’s game,” Aduku said.
