The Nigerian women's football team, Edo Queens, has made significant strides towards representing Nigeria in the 2027 FIFA Women's Champions Cup. By winning the 2026 WAFU-B Women’s Champions League qualifiers, Edo Queens have secured a spot in the CAF Women’s Champions League finals. This triumph was achieved after a thrilling encounter with Ghanaian champions Ampem Darkoa Ladies in the WAFU-B final, where the Nigerian team came from behind to draw 2-2 before winning 4-1 on penalties.
The 2027 FIFA Women's Champions Cup final phase is set to take place at Nu Stadium, the home of Inter Miami CF, in Miami. The competition, scheduled for January 31, 2027, will bring together the best women's clubs from around the world. Mexico's Club América Femenil and UEFA Women’s Champions League holders FC Barcelona Femení have already secured their places in the final phase. The CONMEBOL Libertadores Femenina champions will also qualify directly for the tournament.
Edo Queens' success in the WAFU-B qualifiers has positioned them as one of Africa's leading women's clubs. The Nigerian champions are now among the six zonal champions qualified for the continental finals, alongside AS FAR of Morocco, Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa, Kawempe Muslim of Uganda, Lekié FF of Cameroon, USFAS of Mali, and FUS Rabat of Morocco. The host nation's representative is yet to be confirmed.
The CAF Women’s Champions League finals will be the next major hurdle for Edo Queens. A successful performance in this competition could put the Nigerian champions in contention for the African slot in the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup pathway. The FIFA competition brings together the reigning champions from the six continental confederations, with the opening rounds determining the teams that will join the directly qualified continental champions at the final phase in Miami.
The road to the 2027 FIFA Women's Champions Cup is paved with challenging matches for Edo Queens. Before they can face the Concacaf champions in one of the semi-finals, they must navigate through the AFC and OFC champions in Round 1 and then the CAF Women’s Champions League champions in Round 2. The winner of the CAF-related Round 2 contest will advance to Miami.
FIFA Chief Football Officer Jill Ellis emphasized that the FIFA Women’s Champions Cup was created to provide leading women’s clubs with an annual opportunity to compete on the global stage. She noted that Miami would provide a fitting platform to showcase the quality and global appeal of women’s club football. Nu Stadium, which opened in April, will host the decisive stage, including the semi-finals, bronze final, and championship match.
For Edo Queens, the immediate focus remains on the CAF Women’s Champions League finals. Having conquered WAFU-B for a second time, the Nigerian champions must now navigate the CAF finals before any potential journey towards Miami can become a reality. A successful campaign in the CAF finals could see Nigeria have a representative competing against continental champions from Europe, South America, North America, Asia, and Oceania for global women’s club honours in Miami.
Key points
- Edo Queens won the 2026 WAFU-B Women’s Champions League qualifiers.
- The 2027 FIFA Women's Champions Cup final phase will take place in Miami.
- Edo Queens are now among the six zonal champions qualified for the CAF Women’s Champions League finals.
