Published Friday, 17 November 2023

This is the third play-off match for the CAF Women’s Champions League.

In the two previous editions, AS FAR defeated Malabo Kings 3-1 in 2021 with current AS FAR squad members, Fatima Tagnaout and Ghizlane Chebbak on the score-sheet, with Chebbak netting a brace.

The other play-off for a bronze medal in 2022 ended 1-0 in favour of Nigerian side Bayelsa Queens who over Simba Queens.

Both the previous Bronze medal games have been decided in open play inside 90 minutes.

Victory for AS FAR will ensure that they would finish in the top three in all editions of the finals.

AS FAR are the first team to participate in the third place play-off on more than one occasion.

This is the first time a team from the UNAF region will take on a team from the WAFU region in the third place play-off.

Since a 0-0 stalemate between Sundowns and Malabo Kings in the second Semi-final in 2021, the last 32 games at the finals have all produced goals.

Only two games have ever ended 0-0, one involving AS FAR in their final group game against Mamelodi Sundowns in 2021 as well as Sundowns’ penalty shoot-out win in the 2021 Semi-final against Hasaacas Ladies.

 

Head to head

AS FAR’s defence of their title began in stuttering fashion as they were defeated 2-1 by Ampem Darkoa in their opening game.

This is the second clash between the teams. In their opening game in Group B on  6 November, AS FAR took the lead through Najat Badri, but goals from Comfort Yeboah and a Nouhaila Benzina own goal saw the Ghanaians come back to win the game.

The earlier meeting in the tournament was the first time that AS FAR had taken the lead at a game in the finals and ended up losing. Prior to that they had taken the lead in six games at the finals and won. They have now scored first in nine games and won seven.

AS FAR’s loss to Ampem Darkoa during the two sides’ opening game saw their six game winning run in the competition come to an end. It was also the first time AS FAR had lost their opening game of the tournament.

This is the first time at that two teams who had met in the group stages clash again in the rounds beyond the group stages.

AS FAR have played Ghanaian opponents twice previously and have lost both games against Hasaacas Ladies. In the 2021 Semi-final, they went down 2-1 in that game where Najat Badri drew them level on forty five minutes but they were unable to win the game and conceded a 76^th minute goal from Evelyn Badu which saw them go down 2-1.

This will be the fourth meeting at the finals between teams from Morocco and Ghana.  No country’s clubs have clashed more times.

In the previous three meetings, Ghanaian clubs are undefeated in open play with both Hasaacas Ladies and Ampem Darkoa recording wins against AS FAR, while Ampem lost in the semi-finals of the current edition on penalties to SC Casablanca.

AS FAR will be facing WAFU region opponents for a seventh time. Their record in these games reads W5 D0 L2. Both their losses have been against Ghanaian opponents.

Ampem are the second team that AS FAR will have faced more than once at the finals. They have faced Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies three times.

Moroccan and Ghanaian clubs have previously met at the finals in the Group Stages and semi-finals. This is the latest stage at which they will be meeting.

 

Head to head

                          P          W         D          L          GF        GA       GD      

AS FAR             1          0          0          1          1          2          -1

AMPEM            1          1          0          0          2          1          1

 

 

AS FAR

Have lost two games at the current finals only once previously have they lost two games at a single finals which was in 2021 when they lost to Vihiga Queens of Kenya in their second group game and Hasaacas Ladies in the last four.

Had scored in nine successive games at the tournament a record goal scoring run before failing to find the back of the net in their Semi-final loss to Mamelodi Sundowns.

Their Semi-final loss to Sundowns was the first time that AS FAR had loss to Sundowns in three games at the finals against them. It was also their first loss in four meetings against South African opponents (W2 D1).

AS FAR prior to their Semi-final loss to Sundowns had scored in their previous four games at the finals beyond the group stages, which included two Semi-finals in 2021 and 2022, as well as the 2021 third place-play off and the 2022 Final.

AS FAR had a passing accuracy during their loss to Sundowns of 74.9% – they attempted 402 passes.

During the loss to Sundowns, Aziza Rabbah completed 42 passes, more than any other player in the game.

AS FAR have used 15 players at the current finals, with 11 players having featured in all four games, while Khadija Er-Rmichi, Najat Babri, Siham Boukami, Ghizalne Chebbak, Ghizlane Chhiri and Fatima Tagnaout have started all four games.

Fatima Tagnaout who has one goal for AS FAR at the current finals has scored at all three editions of the CAFWCL for AS FAR, she has five goals in total at the finals ,one behind AS FAR’s all-time tournament top scorer, Ibtissam Jraidi. The latter scored six at the 2022 Finals.

Tagnaout’s last four goals and four of her five goals have been scored from the penalty spot.

Tagnaout has also created more chances than any other player at the current finals. In her four appearances, she had managed to create 11 chances. She is followed by teammate Ghizlane Chebbak who has created 10 chances the second most by any player at the finals.

Defeat for AS FAR will see them lose three games at a single finals for the first time.

AS FAR have never been involved in a penalty shoot-out in five previous knockout games at the finals and have never had any of their previous five games beyond the group stages go to extra time.

AS FAR are the fifth team along with Malabo Kings in 2021, Bayelsa Queens in 2022 and Simba Queens also in 2022 as well as SC Casablanca at the current edition to lose their opening game and go beyond the group stages.

Four teams of the five who have lost their opening game have ended up in the play-off for third place, including AS FAR. Only Bayelsa Queens managed to win the Bronze, defeating Simba in 2022 while Malabo Kings lost in 2021 to AS FAR.

Current AS FAR squad members Khadija Er-Rmichi, Ghizlane Chhiri, Nouhaila Benzina, Aziza Rabbah, Siham Boukhami, Ghizlane Chebbak, Fatima Dahmos, Najat Badri and Fatima Tagnaout started the last time AS FAR participated in the third place-play off game in 2021 against Malabo Kings. While Douha Ahmamou appeared as a substitute.

 

AMPEM Darkoa

Ghana’s second representatives at the finals, along with 2021 runners up Hasaacas Ladies.

They are in the third/fourth place play off after losing 3-2 on penalties to Sporting Casablanca aftre the game ended 2-2. They began with a 2-1 win over defending champions AS FAR then lost 3-0 to AS Mande 3-0 before defeating Huracanes 3-1 in their final group game.

They are facing Moroccan opponents for a third time at the current finals after winning against AS FAR and losing against SC Casablanca.

This is the fifth meeting between a team from Ghana and North African opponents at the finals. The Ghanaian’s are yet to lose in open play. Their record in these games reads P4 W2 D2.

In previous meetings between teams from Ghana and North Africa, Hasaacas Ladies drew with Wadi Degla (Egypt) and defeated AS FAR in the 2021 group stages and Semi-final. While Ampem Darkoa defeated AS FAR in the current group stages and lost on penalties to SC Casablanca.

Ampem Darkoa’s penalty shoot-out loss to Sporting Casablanca in the last four was only the second time a game at the finals had gone to spot kicks.

Their three goalkeepers have made 22 saves more than any other goalkeepers combined at the finals.

The Ghanaian side has used 17 players at the finals thus far, with eight players starting all four of their games.

Interestingly N-Yanyimaya Gnabekan has played in all four of their games, she is yet to start any match.

Seven players have started and finished each of their games. They are Diana Amoako, Nancy Amoh, Ophelia Amponsah, Abena Opoku, Jennifer Owusuaa, Tracy Twum and Comfort Yeboah.

Comfort Yeboah has been involved in three goals, scoring goals and making an assist.

Tracy Twum has created 9 chances, the third most of any player at the finals behind the AS Far duo of Fatima Tagnaout (11) and Ghizlane Chebbak (10).