Kampala Queens' head coach, Charles Ssenyange, reportedly faces heightened pressure as his team prepares for a pivotal showdown against FAD Djibouti in the 2023 CAF Women's Champions League Zonal Qualifiers.
The champions from Uganda find themselves on the verge of elimination following a mixed performance in their group-stage matches, with one victory, one draw, and one loss in their recent outings. The opening match saw Kampala Queens secure a dominant 3-0 win over Yei Joint Stars from South Sudan, driven by Fazila Ikwaput's impressive hat-trick.
However, their fortunes took a downturn with a 2-1 defeat to Buja Queens, followed by a 1-1 draw against Commercial Bank of Ethiopia.
Currently, Commercial Bank of Ethiopia tops the table with seven points, while Kampala Queens hold the second spot with four points.
Buja Queens from Burundi follow in third place with three points and a pending match.
Sources indicate that these results have left Kampala Queens's leadership displeased with the technical team's performance, helmed by Ssenyange.
Despite newcomers to the CAF Women's Champions League Zonal Qualifiers, the club's management reportedly harboured lofty aspirations of clinching the tournament title on their home turf.
As the pivotal match against FAD FC on August 21 approaches, Ssenyange assured Kampala Queens' media that the team has been bolstered with motivation. He also acknowledged previous missed scoring opportunities and emphasized that these issues have been addressed.
"We have infused the players with motivation and have fine-tuned our approach to capitalize on chances in the final third. We are optimistic about seeing these adjustments in action," he stated.
16:40 - 18.08.2023
CAF WCL Ethiopians leave Kampala Queens’ chances hanging in the balance
The draw leaves Kampala Queens second with four points from three games as the Ethiopians consolidate the top spot with seven.
Kampala Queens faces a slim chance of advancing and must secure a victory in their match while hoping for a misstep from Buja Queens.
To craft a formidable squad for the tournament, the club made significant investments in recruiting talent.
Among the notable signings are Florence Imanizabayo, a record goalscorer from Rwanda, Shakirah Nyinagahirwa the FUFA Women Super League (FWSL) Most Valuable Player (MVP), Fazila Ikwaput from Cyprus, as well as Samalie Nakacwa, Hadijah Nandago, Patience Nabulobi, and Catherine Nagadya.