Safa Banouk strike earns ASFAR first CAF WCL victory. Oumou pounces for a hattrick as AS Mande top Group B

©CAF Women’s Champions League


Safa Banouk struck the only goal of the game in the 33rd minute as ASFAR rebounded from a opening day loss to defeat Equatorial Guinea champions Huracanes .   ASFAR came out determined and immediately saw a first minute double opportunity as Zineb Redouani crashed the woodwork and Safa Banouk follow up effort also strike the post . In the 15th minute Ghizlane Chebbak saw her penalty saved firing straight at Huracanes keeper Dolores Masongo.  In the 33rd minute Safa Banouk broke the deadlock with a fine curling effort into the bottom corner much to the relief of the ASFAR bench.  In the second period ASFAR continued to press Fatima Tagnaout being the major outlet in a attempt to double the advantage .  Despite the effort and several missed opportunities to extend the advantage ASFAR had to settle for the single goal victory heading to the final group match against AS Mande on November 12th on 3pts .


Ampem Darkoa set out to put their stamp firmly on Group B .  They thought they had opened the scoring on 6 minutes when Ophelia Amponsah struck Jennifer Owussua’s cross into the net . However on VAR review Owussua was adjudged to be offside in the build up play .  AS Mande gradually got into the opening half  creating some half openings of their own , holding off Ampem Darkoa’s attacks.  Late in the opening period the Malien outfit struck when Oumou Kone pounced on a rebounded freekick in the 40th minute to open the scoring for AS Mande . The second period started out with the Ghana outfit pressing for a equaliser but it was a quick counter attack that found Kone open producing a esquisate cross only for the outstretched effort of  Yasso Konste go wide on 52 minutes.  On 59 minutes Ampem held their breath as a VAR review for a possible red card was checked .  However Jennifer Owussua was cautioned as her foot slid down the back of Fatou Dembele’s leg in what seemed accidental as the two chased for the ball .  AS Mande blew the game open as Oumou Kone pounced twice in three minutes to complete her hattrick , the first from a corner on 71 minutes followed two minutes later a sweeping attack heading home a cross from Maimouna Traore . The game fizzled out Ophelia Amponsah broke away but was offside despite her putting the ball in the net in the 88th minute . AS Mande move to the top of Group B heading to the final group match against ASFAR . Ampem will face Huracanes



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