Ampem Darkoa Ladies have secured a major breakthrough in their protest against Edo Queens, with the Confederation of African Football reportedly annulling the Nigerian club's penalty-shootout victory in the WAFU Zone B Women's Champions League qualifiers. The development follows a formal complaint lodged by the Ghanaian champions over the handling of their 2-2 draw against Edo Queens in Ouagadougou on September 5.
The highly contested encounter ended level after 90 minutes, with the match proceeding directly to a penalty shootout. Edo Queens held their nerve from the spot to secure a 4-1 victory and appeared to have booked their place in the next stage of the competition. However, Ampem Darkoa challenged the decision to go straight to penalties, arguing that the competition regulations required the two teams to play an additional 30 minutes of extra time before a shootout could be used to determine the winner.
CAF has reportedly upheld the Ghanaian side's protest, ruling that the failure to play the mandatory extra time constituted a breach of the competition regulations. As a result, Edo Queens' penalty-shootout victory has reportedly been annulled and will no longer stand as the sporting outcome of the match. This decision could have significant implications for the qualification race.
The two sides are reportedly set to return to the pitch for a replay, with the winner expected to claim the zone's qualification place for the 2026 CAF Women's Champions League. For Ampem Darkoa, the ruling represents an important opportunity to turn their protest into qualification. The Ghanaian champions will now have to put the controversy behind them and focus on delivering a positive result if the replay goes ahead.
Edo Queens, meanwhile, will be seeking to respond on the pitch after seeing their initial penalty-shootout triumph overturned. The latest development adds another chapter to an already dramatic qualification battle and puts both sides back in contention for a place at the 2026 CAF Women's Champions League.
The incident highlights the importance of adhering to competition regulations, particularly in high-stakes matches. CAF's decision to annul the penalty-shootout victory demonstrates the governing body's commitment to upholding the rules and ensuring a fair outcome.
Ampem Darkoa Ladies and Edo Queens are expected to face off in the replay, with the winner advancing to the 2026 CAF Women's Champions League. The match is likely to be closely contested, with both teams eager to secure a spot in the continental competition. CAF's ruling has set the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the qualification process.
Key points
- CAF has annulled Edo Queens' penalty-shootout victory over Ampem Darkoa Ladies due to a breach of competition regulations.
