Stade Malian were bettered by a 3–1 aggregate win at the semifinals stage by our gallant men and in a similar vein Spartans of Owerri had inflicted similar pain on Togo’s Aiglons de Lome in a 4–1 win over the two legs to set up a final in the 1982 WAFU Cup which received huge aplomb across the West African sub zone.
According to guardian.ng coverage of the game, Spartans of Owerri now known as Heartland FC were hugely the favorite following their mesmerizing form in the Nigerian Division One League[the topflight then] yet Hasaacas defied the odds and managed a 1–0 win at Nigeria which was the only goal over the two legs.
A team that has beaten Benin’s Buffles de Borgu 9–1, Stade Malien 3–1 and Togo’s Aiglons de Lome in a 4–1 over two legs failed to put a ball in Hasaacas’s net after 180 minutes.
And that remains the only international showpiece the brand hold, it has been 39 years and there’s another try on Thursday, August 5, 2021.
Hasaacas FC between the period showed clear dominance and as the defending champions entered the 1983 WAFU Cup competition in the intermediary stage now referred to as quarter finals stage; beat Cote D’Ivoire’s Bassam with the away goal rule after 2–2 aggregate win and beat fellow countrymen Accra Great Olympics 1–0 to make the final, but fell to the now defunct New Nigeria Bank FC.
And that was for the men’s and the rivalry has now renewed itself in the women’s edition of the WAFU Zone B Championship which is a qualifier for the first of its kind Confederation of Africa Football Women’s Champions League.
Our women after 39 years have rekindled the rivalry between Sekondi Hasaacas FC, clubs in Nigeria and whenever a WAFU title is up for grabs. And in the way this time is Rivers Angels Football Club.
Hasmal and Rivers Angels are heading to the maiden edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League perhaps something to set us up for what is it to look up to when both teams head to Egypt later this year.
It is a repeat of the first Group B encounter where the River State side had the better of the Giantess with a goal at either side to secure a 2–0 win yet looks as if Coach Yusif Basigi and the lads have put the pieces together since then with a 3–0 and a 2–0 wins over AS Police de Niamey and USFA Burkina Faso respectively.
For the Nigerians it has been a 5–0 and a 5–1 assault of AS Police and Amis Du Monde since then.
There were pre-tournament talks about the two teams bossing the tournament and even a clash between them in the tournament opener came as a disappointment to many but here they are as strong as both can be – matching up in the final.
It looks as if this is pre–ordained but could as well mean a fan myopia predicting itself in this case.
It took some time to get the Giantess settle into the tournament; the first defeat to Rivers Angels was a huge wakeup call though it’s never a crime to think Rivers Angels might snatch a double.
The desperation among fans for a win is highly inevitable through the lenses of the citizens of these two nations all up on their heels expecting the trophy back home with all seriousness.
The fact between Ghana and Nigeria – a rivalry that has been keenly contested especially when it comes to women’s football.
The final is set for Thursday, August 5, 2021 at exactly 6:30P.M. which follows the bronze place clash between the two losing semifinalists.
Stade Robert Champroux will host the final event and there’s a chance to redo the open day defeat.
So, we urge for the repeat of 1982, don’t we?