Tanzania Women's Premier League champions Simba Queens will take to the Kigali Pelé Stadium in Rwanda this Saturday evening to begin their quest for a place in the CAF Women's Champions League (CAF WCL) after being drawn in the CECAFA qualifying zone, where they will face Burundi's Top Girls Academy.
The Group C encounter, scheduled for 5:00 p.m. East Africa Time, is considered a crucial opening fixture for the Tanzanian representatives, who are determined to restore the country's pride in women's football in the region.
Simba Queens enter the competition with major changes to their technical bench, as well as several new international signings brought in to add strength and experience to a squad that reached the semi-finals of the African competition in 2022.
Speaking ahead of the match, Simba Queens head coach Mussa Mgosi said preparations are complete and all his players are in good physical and mental condition as they target three important points.
“We have prepared well and understand the importance of the first match in a group competition like this. Top Girls are a good team and we respect them, but our objective is to win and put ourselves in a strong position to qualify for the next stage,” he said.
Group C consists of just three teams: Simba Queens, Burundi's Top Girls Academy and Kenyan giants Kenya Police Bullets.
Given the small number of teams in the group, a victory today would put Simba Queens in a strong position to reach the semi-finals before they face Kenya Police Bullets in their final group match.
