Having already conquered the WAFU B region in 2024, Edo Queens arrive with valuable experience of the competition and will be targeting another deep run as they seek to secure a place at the continental showpiece
Edo Queens will begin their quest for a return to the CAF Women's Champions League on Monday when they face AS Garde Nationale of Niger in their opening Group B fixture of the 2026 WAFU B qualifying tournament in Burkina Faso.
The encounter is scheduled for 6pm at the Stade du 4 Août in Ouagadougou, with the reigning Nigeria Women's Football League champions aiming to make an early statement in a group that promises a stern test.
Having already conquered the WAFU B region in 2024, Edo Queens arrive with valuable experience of the competition and will be targeting another deep run as they seek to secure a place at the continental showpiece.
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Edo Queens targeting winning start
The Nigerian champions have been preparing for the tournament since arriving in Burkina Faso, with the early arrival allowing the squad to acclimatise to the local conditions.
Assistant coach Gabriel Benson believes his players are ready for the challenge and insists there is only one objective against Garde Nationale: victory.
"The girls are ready and good to go. They know the opportunity laid before them, and they also know that they are representing Edo State and Nigeria at large," Benson said after Sunday evening's training session.
"I know they are ready to fight to the end to win our first game and the WAFU B trophy. We are here for real business."
Edo Queens will also have to contend with the heat in Ouagadougou, which Benson admitted is slightly more intense than what the players are accustomed to in Nigeria.
"We came here on time, and our players are acclimatising well. Concerning the weather, there is a little difference. I found out that this place is hotter than Nigeria," he said.
"We are doing all that is needed to ensure that they have a smooth run in this WAFU B play-off."
Tough group awaits Nigerian champions
The opening fixture represents the first step in what Edo Queens expect to be a demanding campaign.
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Benson acknowledged the quality within Group B, noting that the group contains three former champions, but insisted that his players are not intimidated by the challenge.
"We have come to play against anybody here, knowing that the group we are placed in has three former champions that we know.
"We are not scared. It is a tough group, no doubt. AS Garde Nationale is the only team new to us in Group B. We are prepared, and it is one game at a time."
For Edo Queens, the immediate task is to overcome Garde Nationale and put themselves in a strong position from the outset.
The Nigerian champions will be hoping their experience, preparation and confidence can translate into three crucial points as they begin their latest bid to conquer WAFU B and earn another opportunity to represent Nigeria on the African stage.
