Moroccan coach Lamia Boumehdi has guided TP Mazembe to their first-ever final in the CAF Women’s Champions League. The Congolese team secured their spot with a thrilling 3-1 victory over Nigeria’s Edo Queens on Tuesday, during the semi-final clash held in Morocco.
The team has shown great resilience and determination under Boumehdi’s leadership throughout the tournament, which is taking place from November 9 to 23.
During yesterday’s match, Edo Queens opened the scoring in the 65th minute through Emem Peace Essien, putting Mazembe under great pressure. Mazembe were unable to find the net until the dying moments of original time, equalizing when Merveille Kankinga Nanguji scored in the 90th and pushing the game into extra time.
Mazembe capitalized on their momentum, with Comfort Folorunsho giving them the lead with a goal in the 101st minute. The team then sealed their 3-1 victory with another goal by Marlene Kasaj in the first half of extra time (105+3’) through a penalty kick.
TP Mazembe will now lock horns with Morocco’s AS FAR in the final after the Rabat-based club defeated FC Masar 2-1 in the other semifinal. The final will take place on November 23 at the Stade El Abdi.
Boumehdi, a former captain of the Moroccan women’s national team, has been lauded for her exceptional coaching skills and determination to break barriers in women’s football. CAF recently praised her journey and spotlighted her transition from player to coach after a career-ending injury at 26.
“I couldn’t accept that because I love football so much. So, I decided to stay on the field, but as a coach. For me, coaching is about guiding young talent and giving back to football, which has given me so much,” she said.
CAF noted that at TP Mazembe, Boumehdi has focused on developing a competitive team while investing in grassroots programs. The club’s sports academy, the only one of its kind in the Democratic Republic of Congo, nurtures young female talents across various age groups. Boumehdi described this initiative as a source of pride and a step toward building sustainable success in Congolese women’s football.
Boumehdi views her coaching role as a unique opportunity to unite different cultures and football philosophies. She expressed her admiration for the diversity within African football; “Coaching in a different country has been a gift. It has shown me the incredible diversity of African football. No matter where we are, our love for the game and our desire to elevate it bring us together.”
Author: Mujuni Henry
JUNIITV
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