Simba Queens coach Charles Lukula has admitted that Bayelsa Queens were “better” and “deserved to win” in their CAF Women’s Champions League third place match.
A solitary strike from Juliet Sunday in the 70th minute ensured that Tanzanians fell short of a shot at a bronze-medal battle, as they were edged at Stade Moulay Hassan by the Nigerians.
The result means that Domo Okara’s side finished the tournament as the third-best club on the continent, while Simba Queens will return home medalless from their maiden appearance on the continent.
“They [Bayelsa] Queens kept on pushing from the first to the last minute, maybe my players are forgetting, because it is in the 70th minutes that is when we are conceding, in three games same minutes,” Lukula told CAFOnline.com.
“For some of them, it was the first time, I am happy as reaching here was not easy, because everything was very good. Bayelsa deserves the win because they have been playing well since the competition started.
“We were playing against a better side also, maybe I will say, the first 20 minutes we were nervous, but after 20 minutes, we came back in the game, honestly, we played but maybe we did not make more impact by putting them under pressure.”
Saturday’s matchwinner for Bayelsa saw Simba concede for the third time in five straight games in the last 20 minutes – recurring poor game management by his players, according to Lukula.
“When you are playing against a good team, you don’t expect them not to get a chance so, for me the game was 50-50 anyone could take it, the girls played, although maybe, they gave Bayelsa too much respect,” he continued.
“That is why second half we came back and not giving in 100 per cent which resulted in a goal, but I am contented with what the girls gave me, that is how football is, you want to win but that doesn’t mean you play it badly, for me, the only problem is striking, the rest just need sharpening, then we are good to go.”
