Soaring to the CAF Women's Champions League: Les Aigles de la Médina
The Aigles de la Médina have made history by becoming the first Senegalese football club to qualify for the CAF Women’s Champions League.
The tournament officially gets underway in Morocco between 09 – 23 November and will feature eight of the best women’s clubs from across the continent.
CAFOnline takes a look at the debutants.
How the team qualified
The club achieved an exceptional feat during their WAFU A qualifiers where they not only made history in qualifying, but played an enterprising brand of football that saw them go all the way.
The WAFU A qualifiers were held between 01 – 11 August in Sierra Leone, and saw several clubs from the region compete, each aiming to qualify for the final phase of the competition.
During the group stage, the Aigles de la Médina began their campaign with a solid 2-0 victory over Red Scorpions of Gambia.
Despite a defeat against AS Mande (0-2), the team was able to pull itself together in its next match, by getting a 2-2 draw against Mogbewmo Queens.
Their performance really accelerated in their last match of the group stage against Determine Girls of Liberia, where they triumphed 2-1. This historic victory not only allowed the they finish in first place in their group, but also guaranteed their place in the final of the competition.
In the final, the Aigles de la Médina again met Determine Girls in a decisive match. The latter was marked by palpable intensity and tension. After conceding first, they equalised in the 43rd minute through Marie Diokh, before Mbene Kane found the winning goal in the 89th minute to seal the historic qualification.
Key Player: Ngouye Sarr
The talented defender has become an emblematic figure in Senegalese women's football. In an interview with CAFOnline, Sarr expressed her pride in belonging to this team that has contributed to the history of Senegalese football, saying: "We have shown that Senegal has potential and that we can compete at the highest level. This determination and ambition is key elements in the growth of the game in Senegal.
She emphasised the importance of teamwork and cohesion in the performances of the team, saying that "each player has brought her stone to the building". This collective approach, coupled with her individual talent, allowed the Eagles to overcome major challenges and reach the final.
The coach: Mbayang Thiam
Mbayang Thiam embodies the passion and commitment to the development of women's football in Senegal. In an interview with CAFOnline, Thiam stressed the importance of participating in the CAF Women's Champions League, which she considers a real personal and collective enrichment for his team. "This is an experience that will allow us to learn and improve," she said, highlighting the opportunity to compete with the best African teams.
Under her leadership, the Aigles de la Médina not only managed to win the WAFU A Zonal Qualifiers, but they also demonstrated constant progress in their game.
Thiam attributes this success to rigorous preparation, discipline and solidarity. She emphasises that every game is a chance to learn and grow as a team, which will help them overcome future challenges on the continental scene.
CAF Women’s Champions League History:
2024: First participation