Women's African Champions League: Wadi Degla win first-ever group game
- Published
Noha Mamdouh (number 19) scored the first goal in the Women's African Champions League
Wadi Degla made history by winning the first-ever group match in the inaugural Women's African Champions League after beating Malians AS Mande 3-1 in Cairo.
Later on Friday, Ghana's Hasaacas Ladies also won 3-1, beating Equatoguineans Malabo Kings thanks to a double from Evelyn Badu and a strike from Perpetual Agyekum.
The tournament features eight teams from around the continent split into two groups, with the top two in each group qualifying for the semi-finals.
Earlier at Cairo's 30 June Stadium, Egyptians Wadi Degla made the perfect start on home soil when Hayam Abdelhafez was brought down inside the box by Salimata Kone inside the opening 50 seconds.
Noha Mamdouh converted the resulting penalty to have the honour of scoring the first goal in the history of the competition.
Fatumata Dukureh doubled the lead with a pinpoint right-footed shot into the bottom left-hand corner in the ninth minute, but AS Mande pulled a goal back just after the half-hour mark through Awa Traore.
The forward turned in a loose ball after Bassira Toure had a shot saved by Wadi Degla keeper Elham Eid.
The Malians spurned a good chance to equalise three minutes after the break when Fatoumata Doumbia blazed over the bar, and a minute later 12-time Egyptian champions Wadi Degla restored their two-goal cushion.
A long free-kick into the box was flicked over the keeper by Fatumata Dukureh and Jasmin Zachwieja headed in from close range.
The Group B action starts on Saturday, with Kenyan side Vihiga Queens facing Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies of South Africa before Morocco's AS FAR play Nigerian outfit Rivers Angels.