Inexperienced Bayelsa beaten by Sundowns in first CAFWCL game

Bayelsa Queens have suffered a 2-1 defeat against Mamelodi Sundowns in their first game at the 2022 CAF Women’s Champions League in Morocco.

The Nigerian champions who emerged as the WAFU Zone B representative after a win in the final against Ghanaian champions, Ampem FC, debuted at the CAF Women’s Champions League on Monday.

It was obvious that Bayelsa Queens were playing at this stage for the first time as they lost the game only due to their inexperience, naivety, and poor decisions both in the attack and in defense.

The Prosperity girls started like a house on fire, mounting pressure upon pressure on the South African and African champions.

They could have been two goals up in the first 20 minutes of the game but decisions in front of goals let them down.

The Queens rattled the South Africans but with no serious attempt to trouble the champions, then against the run of play, Sundowns took the lead.

A long ball from the South Africans missed by Nigerian defenders and pounced on by Lelona Daweti gave the champions the lead.

Nigerian champions continued to play and created chances but once again, the strikers failed to convert.

At half time, Bayelsa Queens were the side doing the playing without any serious attempts while Sundowns got the only goal of the game.

Sundowns started the second half with the better team, Bayelsa Queens grew into the game but again for no reason they just didn’t find the finishing touch.

A mistake from one of Prosperity’s girls allowed South Africans to tee up Lelona Daweti who scored with a delicate chip.

Bayelsa Queens’ coach made a few changes to his side and the substitution paid off as Mary-Magdalene Anjor scored a great goal to pull one back.

She got a ball in the area, twisted, and turned before firing into the net – the goal was the first that Sundowns will concede at the tournament.

Sundowns won the CAF Women’s championship last season without conceding a single goal.

Bayelsa Queens pushed for a late comeback but nothing came out of it – they thought they had a penalty late in the game but after VAR check nothing was given.

The Nigerian champions will be hoping they have overcome their naivety when they face TP Mazembe (DR Congo) in their next game on the 3rd of November at 8 pm Nigerian time.

Their last Group B game will be against Wadi Degla (Egypt) on the 6th of November by 8 pm Nigerian time.