Match: TP Mazembe vs Bayelsa Queens
Group: B
Venue: Grand Stade Marrakech
Date: 03 November 2022
Time: 20h00 Local time (19h00 GMT)
Head- to- head
This will be the first meeting between TP Mazembe and Bayelsa Queens at the CAF WCL.
This game also represents the first time that a team from the Democratic Republic of Congo will face a team from Nigeria at the CAF WCL.
This will be the second meeting between teams from the UNIFFAC Zone and WAFU Zone at the CAF WCL, the only previous such clash saw Hasaacas Ladies of Ghana defeat Malabo Kings of Equatorial Guinea 3-1 in their opening game at the 2021 tournament at the 30th June Stadium in Cairo on 5th November 2021.
At the 2021 tournament the UNIFFAC Zone representative Malabo Kings resurrected their tournament in their second group game against Wadi Degla, after losing their first game they won their second 3-0 which helped them eventually reach the semi-finals as they drew their final game 1-1 against AS Mandé of Mali. TP Mazembe
The Democratic Republic of Congo champions TP Mazembe began their inaugural campaign at the 2022 CAF WCL with a 1-0 triumph over Egyptian club Wadi Degla, courtesy of a goal from Merveille Kanjinga in the 7th minute.
TP Mazembe became the sixth team to win their debut game at the CAF WCL with their win over Wadi Degla, they joined Hasaacas Ladies, Wadi Degla, Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, AS FAR and Green Buffaloes to achieve such a milestone.
TP Mazembe became the first team from the UNIFFAC Zone to win their opening game at a CAF WCL Finals with their win over Wadi Degla in their opening game. In 2021 their representative Malabo Kings lost to Hasaacas Ladies in their first game.
Victory for TP Mazembe could see them progress to the next stage of the competition as long as Mamelodi Sundowns do not lose against Wadi Degla, they will be assured of progress with a win for Sundowns Ladies.
A win for TP Mazembe will be the first occasion at a CAF senior women’s tournament that a representative of the Democratic Republic would win successive games or their opening two group games, at the 2006 WAFCON the DRC did not win any of their group games (D1 L2). While at the 2012 WAFCON they won their opening game against Senegal but were then defeated by Equatorial Guinea and South Africa in their next matches.
In their first appearance at the WAFCON in 1998 DRC defeated Egypt in their opening game but then lost their next game to Nigeria and drew their final group game with Morocco to reach the Semi-finals. Where they lost to Ghana before ending third after defeating Cameroon on penalties in the play-off for third place.
TP Mazembe in their opening group game were able to complete 76% of their tackles, while also having a passing success rate of 68%. Achieving a higher level than their opponents Wadi Degla.
Of TP Mazembe’s five shots on target in their opening game against Wadi Degla, three of these were taken by the games lone goal scorer Merveille Kanjinga.
Merveille Kanjinga was also Mazembe’s most influential passer in the game completing 27 passes against Wadi Degla. Bayelsa Queens
Like their counterparts Rivers Angels who were Nigeria’s first representatives at the CAF WCL in 2021, Bayelsa Queens began the 2022 CAF WCL with a 2-1 loss against defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies.
Bayelsa Queens will be looking to avoid the same fate as Nigeria’s other CAF WCL representative Rivers Angles who lost both their opening games in 2021, as they lost 3-0 to AS FAR and then 1-0 to Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies.
Bayelsa Queens managed to become the first team to score a goal against defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies when Mary Anjor scored in THE 81st minute of their 2-1 loss against the South African club. Sundowns Ladies had not conceded a goal in their five games at the 2021 tournament.
Despite losing their opening game Bayelsa Queens had more shots on target (7) than their opponents Sundowns Ladies (4).
Bayelsa Queens had a 72.8% pass success rate in their first game.
Blessing Llivideva was Bayelsa Queens most influential player in their opening game, completing 35 passes more than any of her team- mates, as well as 4 good long balls a joint high for a team. She also shared the most passes between her and her teammates, she made at least 8 passes to three of her colleagues.
Source: Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF)