FC Ebolowa makes winning start to CAF Women’s Champions League qualifiers.

The game took place yesterday at the Estadio de Malabo. The CAF Women’s Champions League UNIFFAC qualifier is taking place in Equatorial Guinea.

The five-nation tournament is expected to run from September 17-29. The best team will qualify for the 5th edition of the premier women’s club competition.

After qualifying for the competition by clinching the Guinness Super League trophy, the country’s women’s first division championship, FC Ebolowa knew that the qualifiers would be a much tougher test.

The Cameroon champions however raced into an early lead when Mbeulou Ornella opened the scoring only three minutes into the game when her threatening free-kick was deflected into the net by a defender.

FC Ebolowa came back strong in the second half. Substitute Adrienne Mekuko came off the bench and introduced herself in fashion.

The substitute teed Raissa Nanga who majestically collected her inch-perfect pass from the outside of her boots before scoring from close range to double the lead for her team.

They had other chances as the game wore on to take the game to bed but missed the target. The win means FC Ebolowa tops the group. The Cameroonian flag bearers face TP Elec Sport of Chad in their second game.

Despite the win, the head coach of FC Ebolowa, Oudou Kpoumie, will be relieved that his side secured their first win in the qualifiers. 

However, the gaffer also knows there is work to do if they are to qualify for the Women’s CAF Champions League for the first time.

Last year, the country’s flagbearer, Lekie FF came agonizingly close to breaking the jinx but narrowly missed out to Tout Puissant, TP Mazembe, who went on to win the Champions League trophy.

The other game yesterday pitted host team FC15 de Agosto of Equatorial Guinea and Amical Club Colombe of Congo Brazzaville.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3568 of Thursday September 18, 2025