Determine Girls and AS Mande settled to a 1-1 draw in their opening fixture of the 2022 CAF Women’s Champions League West Africa Football Union (WAFU) zone A.
Kanties Sayee put the Liberian Champions ahead in the 82 minutes but Fatoumata Doumbia equalized in the added on time for Malian champions, AS Mande.
The match took place on Wednesday, 17 August at the SKD Sports Complex in Paynesville.
The Liberian Champions went into the match with several of their key players being under serious fitness concerned including, Bountou Sylla, Margaret Stewart, Marthaline T. Moore and Marie Flomo.
However, Determine Girls FC star player, Bountou Sylla won the player of the match award following her beautiful displayed that resulted into Kanties Sayee goal in the 82nd minute.
The Guinean showed total quality at the beginning from the edge of the 18 yard box until her movement in to the which herself could have even scored but the goalkeeper denied her efforts only for one of the club longest serving players, Kanties Sayee to slot in empty net from the left hand side of the goal post to put the hosts ahead.
But they will have themselves to blame for the late goal conceded in injury time from Fatoumata Doumbia close range volley to make it 1-1. After the equalizer, they played for less than a minute and the match officials ended the game which saw players of Determine Girls, Technical staff and spectators could not continue their angers, but expressed frustration for the late equalizer.
Both teams wasted lots of scoring chances from the first minute till the 90th minute, but the edge goes to the hosts.
Despite long injury list, Sylavia Payne, Margaret Stewart and Ruth Wesseh were excellent in the middle of the park.
Gambian International Ruggy Joof partnership with Jennie Tisdell in Central defense was brilliant while the goal scorer, Kanties Sayee proved once again to be a dependable player to watch.
But credit goes to Bountou Sylla because of the player of the match award based on her efforts that brought the goal even though she picked up lately in the match.
Her Guinean counter parts, Mabinty Kamara showed little. The coming in of Success Gaye in place of her brought a little changed from up front which resulted into a goal.
Martherline Moore and Diamond Dahn defender well from both the left and right backs. But as for Diamond Dahn, she was lacking confidence to keep the ball and restart the play as left.
Every time she possesses the ball, you see her blow it up front and stayed back in her half without moving further.
The modern game doesn’t go like that but I think the technical staff can work out that; as for Marthline Moore, she shows some sounds of possession, restart of play but she is very slow.
The shot stopper, Jackie Touah, did couple of brilliant saves but she takes little blamed for the goal.
She had no option of coming off the bar with the current position of the ball on the edge of the 18 yard while over three of her players had already make a covered up. Again, her in ability to kick the ball from her half to the center of the park was her major challenged and she almost created trouble for the team.
The Malian Champion and group defending champions proved once again that they are a team to beat. With scores of young players, they managed to earned a point despite the challenges they face in penetrating the Liberians defense from the side. Usually, the French teams play from the side, but all their efforts to break from the flanks were very difficult so, they were restricted from playing their normal style.
Though goal scorer, Fatoumata Doumbia, Oumou Traore and Salimata Kone all came close of scoring in the first half but it was from close range.
Meanwhile, the competition will continue on Friday, 19 August between Senegal’s USPA and AS Mande at 4pm.
While Determine Girls will take on USPA on Sunday, 21 August in the final group match.
The winner of the group will be crowned as champions of West Africa Football Union (WAFU) zone A which is only featuring three clubs.
