CAF Women's Champions League
WAFU B: CAF annuls Edo Queens’ penalty win
Edo Queens‘ 4–1 penalty-shootout victory over Ghana‘s Ampem Darkoa Ladies in the WAFU Zone B final of the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League qualifiers has been annulled by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The decision follows a protest by Ampem Darkoa after the September 5 final at the 4th of August Stadium in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, ended 2–2 after 90 minutes before Nigerian side won on penalties. (MyJoyOnline)
CAF’s Organising Committee for Women’s Football has ordered the final to resume from the beginning of extra time, with the 2–2 scoreline retained.
The eventual winner will claim the WAFU Zone B qualification ticket to the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League final tournament.
Edo Queens penalty win annulled
The controversy centres on the decision to proceed directly to penalties after regulation time.
Instead of playing the required two 15-minute periods of extra time, the match went straight to a shootout, which Edo Queens won 4–1.
CAF ruled that the procedure breached Articles 13.1 and 72.4 of the CAF Women’s Champions League Regulations, which require extra time to be played before penalties can determine a winner in a drawn final.
“The information available to the Committee therefore establishes that the omission of extra time was not caused by either participating club,” CAF said in its decision.
“It resulted from erroneous administrative instruction and the consequent non-application of the applicable competition regulations by the match officials.”
The ruling means the original penalty shootout and its result have no sporting effect.
How the Edo Queens controversy happened
According to the ruling, match officials were initially informed that extra time would be required if the final remained level after 90 minutes.
The same procedure was reportedly communicated to both teams during the Match Coordination Meeting.
However, during the second half, the referee was instructed to proceed directly to penalties if the scores remained level.
“The Referee acted upon this instruction in good faith,” CAF said. “Consequently, the required extra time was not played.”
The Ghana Football Association filed its initial protest with CAF and WAFU Zone B on September 7, two days after the final, before submitting a detailed petition on September 9.
Ampem Darkoa argued that the decision to bypass extra time violated the competition regulations and affected the tactical decisions made during the 90 minutes, including their management of substitutions.
CAF rejects full replay
Ampem Darkoa initially requested that the entire final be replayed.
Alternatively, the Ghanaian side asked for the match to resume from the 2–2 scoreline at the end of regulation time, followed by extra time and, if necessary, a fresh penalty shootout.
CAF rejected a complete replay, ruling that the 90 minutes had been validly played and that there was no evidence that the procedural error had compromised the conduct of the match during regulation time.
“Ninety minutes of the match were validly played and ended in a 2-2 draw,” CAF said.
The governing body therefore opted to preserve the existing scoreline while correcting the stage of the competition that was missed.
Edo Queens return for extra time
CAF ordered the final to resume from the beginning of extra time at 2–2.
The teams will play two 15-minute periods, with a fresh penalty shootout required if they remain level after the additional 30 minutes.
“Resuming the match from the beginning of extra time preserves the valid sporting outcome of the ninety minutes already played while restoring the omitted regulatory stage,” the committee said.
The decision does not award the title to Ampem Darkoa. Instead, it removes the original shootout result and leaves the WAFU Zone B qualification place undecided.
Conditions set for Edo Queens return
The continuation is expected, as far as practically and legally possible, to take place under the same sporting conditions that existed when regulation time ended.
This includes the players on the pitch, eligible substitutes, disciplinary status and substitutions already made.
CAF has also directed that the same venue and match officials be used, subject to confirmation by WAFU Zone B.
WAFU B will determine and communicate the date, kick-off time and venue in consultation with CAF, the Ghana Football Association and the Nigeria Football Federation.
The zonal body will also handle the organisational and financial costs directly arising from the continuation.
Before the match resumes, WAFU B is expected to provide the clubs with the validated match sheet, substitution record, list of eligible players and substitutes, and the applicable disciplinary status of players and officials.
The eventual winner will represent WAFU Zone B at the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League final tournament.
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