BUFFALOES OUT OF CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

GREEN Buffaloes women’s team adventure in the Women’s CAF Champions League suffered a disappointing end after a second consecutive group a defeat following a 2-0 loss to Simba Queens in a fixture played on Saturday night at Marrakech Stadium in Morocco.

Buffaloes, who needed a win to qualify to the semifinals of the CAF Champions League struggled against the Tanzanian club that scored two second half goals to qualify to the last four as second best from Group A.

After a goalless first half, Simba stunned Buffaloes four minutes after the hour mark through Asha Djafari who rose high to beat goal keeper Aisha Mbwana with a header.

Skipper Opah Clement doubled Simba’s lead in the 79th minute to dash Buffaloes’ dream who were reduced to 10 after defender Agness Musesa was sent off for a clumsy challenge on Opa Tukumbuke.

Elimination from the prestigious women’s club championship disappointed head coach Charles Haalubono who had challenges explaining what happened.

“It is difficult to explain what happened but today the girls tried but it was not good enough. We didn’t create enough scoring opportunities that was the problem we had. For Simba they created a few chances and managed to utilise them,” Haalubono said.

“We came here to compete. Our target was to reach the semifinals which we couldn’t but even at this level we competed with different teams and gained the exposure needed for our players to develop,” he added.

Haalubono noted that it was challenging for his team that was using VAR for the first time at the tournament.

Buffaloes who humiliated Determine Girls of Liberia 4-0 in their first fixture at the Women’s CAF Champions League finished third in Group A were they lost to ASFAR FC and Simba Queens who claimed the top two spots to reach the semifinals.