The 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League WAFU-B final between Edo Queens and Ampem Darkoa Ladies has been embroiled in controversy after CAF annulled the Nigerian team's penalty shootout victory. The final was halted after a 2-2 draw at the 4th of August Stadium in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, with Edo Queens winning 4-1 on penalties. However, CAF's Organising Committee for Women’s Football ruled that the penalty shootout was conducted without the required 30 minutes of extra time, breaching regulations.
CAF's decision was prompted by a protest from the Ghana Football Association on behalf of Ampem Darkoa. An investigation revealed that match officials had been initially informed that extra time would be played if the final ended in a draw, but were later instructed to proceed directly to penalties if the teams were level at full-time. The committee attributed the error to an administrative instruction inconsistent with competition regulations, and acknowledged that the referee acted in good faith.
The committee rejected Ampem Darkoa's request for a full replay, finding that the initial 90 minutes had been validly played and that there was no evidence the procedural error affected that period. Instead, CAF ordered the final to resume from the start of extra time, with the score at 2-2. The two teams will play two 15-minute periods of extra time, followed by a fresh penalty shootout if the scores remain level.
CAF's ruling means the WAFU-B representative at the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League final tournament remains undecided. The eventual winner of the rescheduled final will represent WAFU Zone B at the continental final tournament. Edo Queens' original penalty-shootout victory would have secured their place, but that result has now been removed from the record.
The rescheduled final will be played under the same sporting conditions that existed at the end of the original 90 minutes, including the players on the pitch, eligible substitutes, and disciplinary status. The same venue is expected to be used, subject to confirmation by WAFU-B, and the same match officials will oversee the continuation.
WAFU-B will determine and communicate the date, kick-off time, and venue in coordination with CAF and the Nigerian and Ghanaian football associations. CAF's Organising Committee for Women’s Football declared Ampem Darkoa's protest admissible and upheld it on its merits, with the decision signed by Bestine Kazadi, President of the CAF Organising Committee for Women’s Football.
The controversy highlights the importance of adhering to regulations in high-stakes competitions. Both teams will now focus on the rescheduled final, with the winner earning a spot at the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League final tournament. The decision brings clarity to the competition, ensuring a fair outcome for both teams.
Key points
- CAF annulled Edo Queens' penalty shootout win due to a breach of regulations.
- The final will resume from the start of extra time, with the score at 2-2.
- The winner of the rescheduled final will represent WAFU Zone B at the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League final tournament.
