The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has expressed disagreement with the Confederation of African Football's (CAF) ruling that annulled the penalty shootout between Edo Queens and Ghana's Ampem Darkoa Ladies in the WAFU-B championship final. The match, which took place on September 5 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, ended 2-2 after regulation time, with Edo Queens winning 4-1 in the penalty shootout to claim the championship and secure a spot in the CAF Women's Champions League.
Ampem Darkoa Ladies protested the result, citing that the regulations required two 15-minute periods of extra time before penalties. CAF upheld the protest and ordered the final to resume from extra time, but later cancelled the final due to the referees' refusal to follow the laid-down guidelines. The NFF has filed an appeal with CAF's Appeals Committee, arguing that the continental body should reconsider the remedy imposed after an officiating error in the WAFU-B final.
The NFF's petition, signed by Acting General Secretary Dr. Emmanuel Edem Ikpeme, does not deny that the regulations required extra time but questions whether cancelling a completed shootout and ordering the final to resume from extra time is the appropriate remedy. The federation argues that Edo Queens did not cause, request, or contribute to the omission of extra time and that the Nigerian players merely complied with the referee's instruction.
The NFF's legal argument centers on the distinction between identifying an irregularity and determining the appropriate consequence. The federation insists that any remedy should have a clear regulatory basis and be proportionate to the breach established. The NFF has urged the Appeals Committee to overturn the decision and uphold the original result, arguing that Edo Queens should not lose the sporting benefit of a match concluded under the direction of the appointed officials.
CAF's decision to cancel the final has significant implications for the teams involved. Edo Queens' win in the penalty shootout was declared null and void, and the team stands to lose its spot in the CAF Women's Champions League. The NFF's appeal aims to restore the original result and secure Edo Queens' participation in the prestigious tournament.
The WAFU-B championship is an important competition for women's football in West Africa, and the controversy surrounding the final has sparked debate about the application of regulations and the role of referees in determining match outcomes. The NFF's appeal to CAF's Appeals Committee is expected to be closely watched by football stakeholders in the region.
The outcome of the appeal will have a significant impact on the future of women's football in Nigeria and the region. If the NFF's appeal is successful, Edo Queens will retain its WAFU-B championship title and secure a spot in the CAF Women's Champions League. The case highlights the complexities of football regulations and the need for clear guidelines and consistent application of rules to ensure fair play and sporting integrity.
Key points
- The Nigeria Football Federation has appealed CAF's decision to cancel Edo Queens' WAFU-B championship win due to an officiating error.
- The NFF argues that Edo Queens did not cause or contribute to the error and that the remedy imposed by CAF is disproportionate to the breach established.
- The outcome of the appeal will determine whether Edo Queens retains its spot in the CAF Women's Champions League.
