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Buja Queens left it late to overcome FAD Djibouti 2-1 to progress to the semifinals of the CAF Women's Champions League CECAFA qualifier played in Njeru on Thursday.
The Burundian champions needed just a point from the Djiboutians to seal their spot but had to dig deep into the game to get all the three points.
FAD's goalkeeper Abdilahi Taslim had won the hearts of neutrals and the Kampala Queens supporters with her heroics that kept the Burundians at bay for 75 minutes.
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13:19 - 22.08.2023
CAF WCL Can Fazila Ikwaput, Situma dethrone the Ethiopian queen of goals?
Kampala Queens striker Fazila Ikwaput leads the top scorers' chart at the CAF Women's Champions League CECAFA qualifier with eight goals.
However, defensive lapses thereafter cost them the game and denied Djibouti their first ever point in the competition.
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Erica Kanyamuneza floated a poor freekick that went direct to Taslim's waiting arms.
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04:45 - 24.08.2023
CAF WCL Buja Set to Deliver Judgment on Kampala Queens in Absentia
Kampala Queens sit second in Group A with seven points from four games but will need an almost impossible favour from FAD Djibouti to survive an early exit.
She rectified that a minute later by slicing a corner kick direct to Ruth Ingosi, who met it with a thumping header for the opening goal in the 75th minute.
The Djiboutians made an instant statement with their second goal of the tournament after a series of sloppy defending by the Burundian backline.
Abdou Lerman won a corner kick ten minutes later and slotted in a tricky cross, which Buja's keeper Monica Karambu clumsily fumbled with it and bounced it on Nadir Nour.
The ball rebounded on Nour and crossed the goal line before the defenders hastily cleared off, but the referee had already blown her whistle to signal for a goal.
The Burundians won another corner kick two minutes later. Kanyamuneza used the same script and laid a kick that troubled the keeper before falling on Teopista Situma's path.
The striker made no mistake to head in for her fourth goal of the tournament and give Buja the win that took their tally to nine points.
Commercial Bank of Ethiopia advances as the group A winners after beating Yei Joint Stars 4-0 in the earlier kickoff.
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The Ethiopians will face Kenyan champions Vihiga Queens in the semifinal as Buja tussle it out with JKT Queens from Tanzania.
2023 CAF Women’s Champions League - CECAFA Qualifiers
Semifinal fixtures
JKT Queens vs. Buja Queens
CBE FC vs. Vihiga Queens
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