Captain Taiwo Afolabi says Delta Queens are aiming to replicate the feats of Rivers Angels and Bayelsa Queens by qualifying for the 2023 CAF Women’s Champions League in Cote d’Ivoire later in November.
To become the third consecutive Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) Premiership side at the continental finals, the reigning champions will have to win the WAFU-B Zonal title when it gets underway in Benin City, Nigeria from August 20 to 31.
And the Nigeria U20 midfielder assures her side is focus on extending their domestic unbeaten streak to the region in a bid to guarantee a place at the third edition of the continental showpiece.
“The preparation towards the WAFU-B Qualifiers has been an excellent one. We are physically and mentally prepared for the task ahead,” Afolabi told TheNWFL.com.
“Honestly it is not easy to lead but in anything I do, I put Allah first for Him to direct me and is helping me.”
Tosan Blankson’s side played 15 league games across the regular season and Super Six without any loss to emerge as league champions on home soil.
The responsibility of leading the team to continental glory has bestowed on the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup bronze medalist Afolabi after the title-winning feat in Asaba.
“The responsibility of leading the team to win the WAFU-B Qualifiers is not much for me because we are working together as a team not as individuals.” she continued.
“The coaches are preparing us well and we as a player are there for each other 100%. We won the league without losing a single match through our dedication and team spirit. We are going to give nothing less than 100% and I believe we are going get positive results.”
Afolabi has a message to the teeming Deltan and Nigerian fans ahead of their campaign in Benin City, saying: “They should expect good football and excellent performance. We also need their support to achieve positive our aim. We are going to make them proud.”
Delta Queens will face USFA (Burkina Faso), Athletico FC (Ivory Coast), and SAM Nelly (Benin Republic) in group B of the 2023 WAFU-B Zonal Qualifiers for the CAF Women’s Champions League.
The winner of the Zonal Qualifiers and hosts of the final Athletico FC of Abdijan will represent WAFU-B region at the third edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League in Ivory Coast.