Determine Girls of Liberia secured their ticket to this year’s TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League after beating US Parcelles Assainies 1-0 on Sunday.
The home side defeated the Senegalese on the final day of the West Africa Football Union (WAFU) Zone A qualifier in Monrovia to seal their place.
Bountou Sylla, the Guinean who plays for Determine Girls had promised to do everything to make a big impact and get a big media exposure.
She succeeded in a big way when she scored the only goal of the match against USPA on the last day of the qualifying tournament.
In a closed game, the host team of the tournament, took advantage of their first big opportunity to score and secure their ticket.
Sylla received a cross from the right and managed to control the ball in a forest of legs before putting it beyond the reach of the USPA goalkeeper Adji Ndiaye.
The goal in the 27th minute sparked the champions of Senegal into action as they threw all their forces into battle but USPA striker Coumba Mbodj missed a good scoring opportunity moments later.
In the second half, the representatives of Senegal refused to loosen the noose but lacked the accuracy at goal to draw level amid heavy defending by the home side.
The home crowd erupted in jubilation at the final whistle to be the first side to qualify for a final phase of continental competition since their appearance at the 2002 African Cup of Nations played in Mali.
Determine Girls also made history by becoming the first team to qualify Liberian women’s football for a final phase of continental competition.
In their first game, they drew 1-1 against AS Mandé who were forced to draw 0-0 against USPA in their second outing in the tournament.
The Malians, who represented the zone in the first edition of the Women’s Champions League last year, lost their crown to Determine Girls who will represent the zonal body in Morocco at the end of the year.
What they said
Marième Babou of US Parcelles Assainies, Woman of the Match: “I am happy with the title but I would have preferred to win the tournament and qualify for the Champions League. But it’s only gone, we just have to go back home and work harder to come back stronger.”
Séréna Léna Gomis, coach of US Parcelles Assainies: “First of all, we must congratulate the victorious and champion team, Determine Girls, they did well and deserve this title. In this Sunday’s match, we narrowly missed the finish. You have to see that we had the best chances of the game. But when you have chances and you score, you expose yourself. We will return home, work more locally to win the championship. This is the only way to return to this qualifying tournament and try our luck again. The objective is obviously to qualify Senegalese women’s football in the Champions League.”
Bountou Sylla, best player of the tournament: ”We couldn’t imagine losing at home tonight, I’m very happy to have allowed Liberian football to be celebrated, we allowed the qualification to a major tournament, it is to the honor of the team but also to all the members of the technical staff and the leaders, it is a very beautiful day for Liberian football.”
Robert Lartey, coach of Determine Girls FC: “We succeeded, we reached our goal, I must thank my players, my family and give thanks to God. We worked well and above all we succeeded in our mental preparation. It was not easy because of the many injuries but we had to make the players understand that it was possible. Thanks to the fans and the management, it’s a great day for Liberian football. This is the victory of Liberian football. Now we have qualified for the Champions League which is a major tournament, we still have to work to move forward.”
Jackie Touah of Determine Girls, best goalkeeper of the tournament: “I give thanks to God for having won this title which comes with a qualification in the Women’s Champions League. I gave everything I had for the success of the team. We know we have to give up nothing to win and have the opportunity to play in the Champions League.”
Source: Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF)