The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has overturned Edo Queens' 4-1 penalty shootout win over Ampem Darkoa Ladies in the WAFU Zone B final. The decision was made after CAF upheld a protest by Ampem Darkoa Ladies, citing a breach of competition regulations. The match, played in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, had ended 2-2 after 90 minutes on September 11.
According to reports, the match coordinator sent both teams straight into a penalty shootout, skipping the two 15-minute periods of extra time. Ampem Darkoa Ladies filed a formal protest with WAFU Zone B and CAF, arguing that the coordinator's decision breached the rules explained to all participating teams before the tournament began. The club requested that CAF either order the missing extra time to be played or allow the match to resume from the point at which the shootout was wrongly ordered.
CAF has sided with Ampem Darkoa Ladies, annulling Edo Queens' penalty win. This decision strips Edo Queens of the title they had already celebrated as WAFU Zone B champions and reopens the qualification race for the 2026 CAF Women's Champions League. The two clubs are now expected to return to the pitch to determine who actually wins WAFU Zone B and, with it, the continental ticket.
The WAFU Zone B final is the qualifying route through which either Ghana or Nigeria secures its place in the CAF Women's Champions League. For Ampem Darkoa Ladies, the reversal keeps alive a chance at continental football and the exposure, prize money, and ranking points that come with it. For Edo Queens, it means a trophy they had already lifted has effectively been put back up for grabs pending a fresh match.
CAF's confirmation of the case has not been accompanied by any formal statement on scheduling. Neither the date, venue, nor format for the rematch has been announced, leaving both camps in limbo over when — or how — the tie will finally be settled. Supporters of both clubs are left waiting for official word from CAF on the next stage of a final that, on paper, still has no confirmed winner.
The dispute over a single missed extra-time period has undone three weeks of celebration for Nigeria's Edo Queens. The Ghanaian club, Ampem Darkoa Ladies, had not accepted the outcome of the match and had filed a formal protest. According to Ghana Media Hub, whose exclusive reporting was cited by pulse ghana, the protest was filed the same day as the match.
The CAF decision has significant implications for both teams. Ampem Darkoa Ladies now have a chance to qualify for the 2026 CAF Women's Champions League, while Edo Queens must regroup and prepare for a potential rematch. The outcome will determine which team will represent the region in the continental competition.
Key points
- CAF overturns Edo Queens' penalty win due to a breach of competition regulations
- Ampem Darkoa Ladies' protest is upheld, reviving Ghana's bid for a 2026 CAF Women's Champions League slot
- A rematch is expected to be played to determine the actual winner of WAFU Zone B
