The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has formally appealed to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to overturn a decision that annulled Edo Queens' penalty-shootout victory over Ghana's Ampem Darkoa Ladies in the WAFU B women's title match. The appeal, filed on September 29, 2026, challenges CAF's ruling that ordered the final to resume from extra time. The match, played on September 5 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, ended 2-2 after 90 minutes, with Edo Queens winning 4-1 on penalties.
CAF's initial ruling upheld Ampem Darkoa Ladies' protest, citing regulations that require two 15-minute periods of extra time before penalties. However, the NFF disputes this decision, arguing that annulling the completed shoot-out and reopening the final is not the proper regulatory remedy. The federation claims that neither Edo Queens nor Ampem Darkoa was responsible for the error, which resulted from an erroneous administrative instruction. The referee was also found to have acted in good faith.
The NFF's legal argument focuses on the distinction between establishing a regulatory irregularity and deciding who should bear its sporting consequences. The federation contends that Edo Queens' compliance with the referee's instruction to proceed to penalties cannot be retrospectively converted into responsibility for the regulatory breach. The NFF is seeking a clear basis in the regulations for any remedy and a proportionate response to the breach.
CAF maintains that Articles 13.1 and 72.4 of the regulations make extra time mandatory, and the penalty shoot-out can only follow after the additional 30 minutes. The governing body has ordered the final to resume from 2-2, with a fresh shoot-out if the teams remain level after extra time. This decision has left the qualification place for the CAF Women's Champions League undecided until the final is completed under the new procedure.
The stakes are high for Nigerian women's football, with Edo Queens' original victory securing the WAFU-B title and the zone's ticket to the CAF Women's Champions League. The NFF's appeal aims to save Edo Queens' crown and ensure their participation in the Champions League. The outcome of the appeal will have significant implications for the future of women's football in Nigeria.
The CAF Appeals Committee will review the NFF's appeal and make a decision on the matter. The committee's ruling will determine the fate of Edo Queens and Ampem Darkoa Ladies in the WAFU B women's title and the CAF Women's Champions League. The decision is expected to have far-reaching consequences for women's football in Africa.
The NFF's appeal has highlighted the complexities of regulatory frameworks in African football. The case has raised questions about the interpretation of regulations and the consequences of errors in match officiating. The outcome of the appeal will provide clarity on these issues and have implications for future matches in African football competitions.
Key points
- The NFF's appeal challenges CAF's decision to annul Edo Queens' penalty-shootout victory.
- The appeal seeks to save Edo Queens' crown and ensure their participation in the CAF Women's Champions League.
- The outcome of the appeal will have significant implications for women's football in Nigeria and Africa.
