They stand in our way, we shall respect them, says Vihiga Queens head coach Okere

Vihiga Queens coach Charles Okere during a press conference at the ongoing CAF Women's Champions League in Cairo, Egypt on November 8 2021. [Vihiga Queens FC]

Just as they stumbled in their opening game of the regional qualifiers for the same tournament, Vihiga Queens came back into contention and secured a place in the Inaugural TotalEnergies Women’s Championship League.

Kenyan side Vihiga Queens are heading into the game at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo, Egypt against Rivers Angels of Nigeria in Group B with three points, same as AS FAR of Morocco but differentiated by goal difference hoping to turn tables against Rivers of Angels.

Vihiga Queen's head coach Charles Okere has said they will respect Nigeria’s Rivers Angels FC when they meet Rivers Angels of Nigeria in the last match of Group B at the ongoing TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League.

Okere said they will treat the Rivers Angels side with due respect they deserve as they are the team standing in their way to the semifinal.

 “It will be a very tough match because Rivers Angels have a good fighting spirit. But we need to win with as many goals as possible to be able to qualify for the semifinal,” said Okere.

The Okere led side are currently second in the standing table behind Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, of South Africa.

He added that as much as their opponents are a strong team his side will approach the match like a final.

“We need to score as many goals as possible to be able to get to the semi-final stage,” said Okere.

Team captain Enez Mango said the game with Rivers Angels is a very important match for her side. “We need to give our best and fight till the end,” added Mango.

Tereza Engesha who was named the player of the match in the game against AS FAR said she hopes to maintain the gusto and even improve on it.

 “I have to either maintain or improve on that as we face River Angels in our final Group B match,” said English.

Edwin Okon, the Rivers Angels coach however was upbeat that anything is possible in football and they can still make it to the semi-final,” said Okon.

 

“We lost the first two matches, but everything is possible in football. We can win and with a big goal difference, we just need the match to go as we plan.”

 

Queens are hoping for a win to secure a place in the semi-finals that will kick off from Monday the 15th of November.

If CECAFA representatives in the tournament are determined to turn the tide against Rivers Angels who are trailing Group B without any point third with five points, then the Vihiga Queens will have a head up to the semi-finals.

 A defeat will knock out the Kenyan side from the tournament. However, with favours from Mamelodi Sundowns, Vihiga Queens will still book a place in the semis.

Vihiga Queens will also be hoping the Group B leaders Mamelodi Sundowns triumph over AS FAR Club in their final fixture for their chance to step into the semifinals in spite of a defeat against the Rivers Angels.

This outcome will result in Vihiga Queens (3 points) advancing due to their superior head to head advantage over AS FAR (On 3 points also). If the game between AS FAR Club and Mamelodi Sundowns ends in a stalemate, then Vihiga Queens will need at least a draw.

In Group A, Hasaacas Ladies of Ghana and Malabo Kings of Equatorial Guinea sailed through the semi-finals as the host Wadi Degla, Egypt gracefully bid goodby to the tournament after their 2-2 draw against Hasaacas Ladies who were topping the Group A after winning all her games and had the assurance to book a place in the semis.

Malabo Kings needed only a point to secure a place in the next stage and a draw with AS Mande of Mali was a blessing in disguise.