WAFU-B Qualifiers: Boboye, Odiagbe express confidence as Edo Queens battle AS Garde Nationale
Edo Queens interim head coach Kennedy Boboye and captain Deborah Odiagbe have expressed confidence that the Nigerian champions will overcome AS Garde Nationale of Niger when both sides clash in their opening Group B fixture of the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League WAFU-B qualifiers today.
The encounter is scheduled for 6pm at the Stade 4 Août in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, as Edo Queens begin their quest to reclaim the WAFU-B title and secure qualification for the CAF Women’s Champions League.
Boboye said Edo Queens’ preparations for the continental assignment began immediately after they secured the NWFL title in Nigeria, adding that the team also used a series of friendly matches to fine-tune its preparations.
“It has been a long journey. We won the league in Nigeria, and that was when we knew that we were coming to play the WAFU-B qualifying games.
“We have played a series of friendly matches. We won three and lost only one. We did a lot of preparations before coming to this competition.”
The coach, who is standing in for substantive coach Moses Aduku, said the players understand the importance of the tournament, particularly after Edo Queens won the WAFU-B championship in 2024.
“The girls know the importance of this tournament. They won it in 2024, and everybody in the team knows why we are here. They equally know that we are representing Nigeria.
“Millions of Nigerians are looking up to us, so we are here to fight and win, like we did two years ago, and take the trophy back to Nigeria.”
On the presence of three former champions in Group B, Boboye said Edo Queens would approach the competition one match at a time.
“We will take every game as it comes. We have our first match against Niger; it is one game at a time. It is a tough group, so for us to be here, and for any team that is here, shows that they have the capability to be here.”
Boboye also revealed that the team had struggled to obtain sufficient information about their opening opponents, but insisted that the lack of available data would not affect Edo Queens’ preparations.
“We did everything to get information about the team. We can’t find anything about them on the net, but we won’t allow that to destabilise us.”
On the opening fixture against AS Garde Nationale, the coach said his players are ready for the challenge.
“I think the girls are ready. They have prepared enough, so we are good to go.”
Meanwhile, Edo Queens captain Deborah Odiagbe has also expressed confidence in the team’s readiness, drawing on her experience from the club’s successful WAFU-B campaign two years ago.
Speaking at the pre-match meeting, Odiagbe said the atmosphere in camp has been positive, with the players fully focused on securing victory.
“Honestly, we are fully ready. We came here two years ago and we won it. We are fully ready. The spirit in camp is high, the mentality is there and the players are ready.
“We are going to approach the match with a winning mentality. Like I said, we are good to go.”
Odiagbe, who was part of the Edo Queens squad that lifted the WAFU-B title in 2024, said her experience would help motivate the younger members of the team.
“For me to be part of this team is an experience. I was here two years ago. I have been speaking to my teammates, telling them, ‘Look, we can do it.’
“So, with my experience and that of other players, I am highly optimistic that we can do it.”
Edo Queens will be hoping their confidence translates into a positive result when they take on the Nigerien side in what promises to be a crucial opening encounter in Group B.
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