Ghana’s Ampem Darkoa Ladies have officially won the WAFU-B qualifying final after defeating Nigeria’s Edo Queens 3-2 after extra time in Cairo.
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The tie resumed from extra time with the score level at 2-2, and Ampem Darkoa scored the winning goal within the 30 minutes to secure their place at the CAF Women’s Champions League in Egypt.
The result finally ends the saga that began on September 5, when Edo Queens were crowned champions on penalties, only for CAF to rule that the final had been decided incorrectly.
As it stands, Ampem Darkoa, who were runners-up on the final night, are now the representatives of WAFU Zone B.
What Transpired in the Final, and Why It Had to Continue
The original final was played in Ouagadougou on September 5 after a delay of more than an hour caused by heavy rain and strong winds.
Ampem Darkoa struck in the second minute through Beline Nyarko, and Dooshima Tarnum levelled for Edo Queens before the break.
After the restart, Nyarko converted a penalty to make it 2-1, but Edo Queens’ Oluebube Umejiaku scored a late equaliser to make it 2-2.
However, instead of playing 30 minutes of extra time (as the competition rules require in a final), the match went straight to penalties, which Edo Queens won 4-1.
After losing the shootout, Ampem Darkoa protested through the Ghana Football Association, saying they were preparing for extra time when they were given a different instruction by the centre referee.
On September 26, CAF’s Organising Committee for Women’s Football ruled that the officials had breached Articles 13.1 and 72.4 of the regulations. The football governing body cancelled the shootout result and ordered that the game must resume at the start of extra time at 2-2.
Edo Queens’ Failed Protest
Expectedly, Edo Queens did not accept the annulment, and the Nigeria Football Federation appealed to CAF. Unfortunately, the NFF did not succeed, as CAF’s Appeal Board upheld the annulment on October 16.
After deliberations between Edo Queens, their board, the Edo State Government and the NFF, the decision was accepted, and the ladies had to prepare for the final they thought they had already won.
Edo Queens’ Missing Players at the U-17 World Cup
Edo Queens also had another factor working against them, as two of their promising youngsters were with the Flamingos in Morocco.
The tournament’s most valuable player, Oluwakemi Adegbuyi, is currently with coach Akeem Busari’s side, which will be up against Mexico in the round of 16 of the ongoing FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
Her absence definitely weakened the Edo Queens attack, because Kemi’s pace and attacking prowess troubled the Ghanaian side in the original final.
The Nigerian side also missed the services of Oluebube Umejiaku, who is equally involved with the U-17 team.
Considering their importance to the team, reports claimed that Edo Queens wanted to bring both players back from Morocco for the game, but the plans were blocked by the Nigeria Football Federation.
What Comes Next
Ampem Darkoa have been drawn in Group B of the CAF Women’s Champions League alongside defending champions AS FAR of Morocco, USFAS Bamako of Mali and Kawempe Muslim Ladies of Uganda. The tournament begins on November 1 and runs to November 15, which leaves the Ghanaians only a few days to recover and prepare for a demanding group.
For Edo Queens, this is a painful end to a season that began with so much promise. They looked like the best attacking side in the zone but finished without the continental place.
