Olympique de Moroni from Comoros will be hoping to make waves when they compete in the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League | COSAFA Qualifier for the first time, taking their place in Group B at the continental qualifier in Durban from August 7-13.

This will be the first time that a women’s club from the Comoros takes part in an international competition and the representatives of the Indian Ocean region are not coming to Durban to make up the numbers.

Djinti Ahamada, the team’s communication manager who will also serve as head of delegation during the competition, firmly believes his club will do well despite their status as rookies.

“It is a chance to participate in this competition and it shows that Comorian football is growing. We will try our best and will use every resource we have to put our opponents in difficulty,” Ahamada said.

Olympique de Moroni have been drawn in Group B, where the champions of the Comoros will enter action on August 9 against Zambian club of Green Buffaloes (kick-off 15h30 CAT), before completing the group stage against the Young Buffaloes of Eswatini two days later (15h30 CAT).

“We know that we are going to face experienced clubs. But we will fight to get first or second place,” explains Ahamada.

Olympique de Moroni is coached by Hamada Jambay. He played in Ligue 1 in France with Olympique de Marseille and also wore the colours of the French national team in the youth categories, before opting for the Malagasy senior national team selection later on in his career, which included an appearance in the 2003 COSAFA Cup.

Olympique de Moroni is a newly created club that has made excellent strides in its short history, and this will be another huge leap forward for them, according to Ahamada.

“We do not have a lot of experience because the creation of the club dates back to 2019. However, we have a president who does not hesitate to put every resource to make the club progress,” he said.

This season, Olympique de Moroni is undefeated in domestic action and will look to take that form to Durban. The team now hopes to pave the way for other Comoros women’s teams and showcase the talent in the country.

The top club in each of the two pools will contest the final at the COSAFA Women’s Champions League, where the victor will earn a place at the 2022 TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Champions League finals that are scheduled for Morocco later in the year.

The runners-up in the pools will contest for the bronze medal in Durban, which would be some consolation for not reaching the decider.

By Benoit Thomas