By Sharon Akhigbe Ekhiwere
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has ordered the resumption of the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League WAFU Zone B qualifying final between Nigeria’s Edo Queens and Ghana’s Ampem Darkoa Ladies, following a ruling on the Ghana Football Association’s protest over the match procedure.
In a decision dated September 26, 2026, the CAF Organising Committee for Women’s Football ruled that the match, played on September 5 at the 4th of August Stadium in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, must resume from the beginning of extra time, with the score standing at 2-2. Edo Queens had initially been declared winners after a 4-1 penalty shootout victory, following the goalless extra-time period that should have been played.
The committee upheld the protest submitted by the Ghana Football Association on behalf of Ampem Darkoa Ladies, finding that the match officials had failed to apply Articles 13.1 and 72.4 of the CAF Women’s Champions League Regulations. The regulations require two periods of 15 minutes of extra time in the event of a draw after normal time, with penalties only to follow if the scores remain level.
CAF stated that the decision to proceed directly to penalties was based on an erroneous instruction to the referee, despite the requirement for extra time having been communicated to the participating teams before the match.
The committee ruled that the penalty shootout and its 4-1 result in favour of Edo Queens must have no sporting effect, but rejected a full replay, noting that the 90 minutes had been validly played.
The ruling directs that the match continue with two 15-minute periods of extra time under the same sporting conditions, including the players and substitutes available at the end of regular time, disciplinary records and remaining substitution opportunities.
If the teams remain level after extra time, a fresh penalty shootout will determine the winner and the team that qualifies for the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League final tournament. WAFU B is responsible for communicating the resumption date, venue and kick-off time, as well as the organisational and financial costs arising from the continuation.