Nigeria’s Edo Queens have been eliminated from the race for the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League after suffering a 3-2 defeat to Ghanaian champions Ampem Darkoa Ladies following 30 minutes of extra time in Cairo, Egypt, on Thursday.

Ampem Darkoa scored two minutes into the rescheduled extra-time period to settle the fiercely contested West African Football Union (WAFU) Zone B qualifying final, securing Ghana’s remaining ticket to the continental competition. Blueprint reports

The decisive encounter resumed with the score at 2-2 after the teams had drawn during regulation time in their original meeting in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on September 5.

Edo Queens had initially won 4-1 on penalties and celebrated qualification after the first encounter. However, a protest by Ampem Darkoa over the failure to play extra time before the penalty shootout led the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to annul the result and order the match to be completed.

The Nigerian champions were unable to protect their qualification hopes in Cairo, as Ampem Darkoa capitalised on the additional playing time to secure a place in the 2026 continental tournament.

Early extra-time goal ends Edo Queens’ hopes

With the teams returning to the pitch at 2-2, the remaining 30 minutes presented both sides with a final opportunity to settle the contest on the field.

Ampem Darkoa made an immediate impact, scoring from a corner just two minutes into the resumed match to take the decisive lead.

The early goal put Edo Queens under pressure, forcing the Nigerian side to push forward in search of an equaliser that would have taken the contest to a penalty shootout under the competition’s prescribed format.

Despite applying sustained pressure, Edo Queens could not find the goal needed to keep their qualification hopes alive.

Ampem Darkoa, coached by Charles Anokye Frimpong, remained organised defensively and held on to their advantage until the final whistle.

The Ghanaian side’s ability to defend their lead during the closing stages proved decisive, ending a prolonged qualification battle that had remained unresolved for almost two months.

How the controversy began in Burkina Faso

The latest defeat followed a disputed final played at the August 4 Stadium in Ouagadougou on September 5.

Edo Queens and Ampem Darkoa had finished the regulation period level at 2-2 before the Nigerian club won the subsequent penalty shootout 4-1.

Edo Queens were initially declared winners, and the result appeared to have secured their place in the CAF Women’s Champions League.

Ampem Darkoa, however, challenged the procedure through the Ghana Football Association, arguing that the competition regulations required two 15-minute periods of extra time before a penalty shootout could be conducted.

The Ghanaian club maintained that proceeding directly to penalties after the teams drew in regulation time was contrary to the tournament’s rules.

On September 26, CAF’s Organising Committee for Women’s Football upheld the protest and annulled the penalty-shootout result, directing that the match resume from the beginning of extra time with the score remaining 2-2.

The Nigeria Football Federation subsequently appealed the decision on behalf of Edo Queens, arguing that the club had followed the match officials’ instructions and should not be penalised for the procedural error.

However, CAF’s Appeal Board upheld the earlier ruling on October 16, confirming that the remaining 30 minutes had to be played to determine the winner.

The governing body also directed that different match officials be appointed for the continuation of the fixture.

Edo Queens accept CAF ruling

Although the decision overturned their initial victory, Edo Queens eventually agreed to return to the pitch in Cairo to complete the contest.

The club said its decision followed consultations with its board, the Edo State Government and the NFF, with the team choosing to comply with the ruling in the interest of fairness and the need to settle the dispute on the field.

Ahead of the match, Edo Queens expressed confidence in their preparations, insisting that the players remained focused on securing qualification.

Head coach Moses Aduku said the players were in the right frame of mind for the decisive encounter.

The club had also appealed to its supporters to continue backing the team despite the disappointment surrounding the reversal of the original result.

However, the early extra-time goal from Ampem Darkoa ultimately proved too difficult to overcome, leaving the Nigerian side to accept elimination from the qualifying competition.

Ampem Darkoa return to continental stage

The victory secures Ampem Darkoa’s second appearance at the CAF Women’s Champions League, having previously represented Ghana at the 2023 edition, where they finished fourth.

The Techiman-based club will now compete in Group B of the 2026 tournament alongside defending champions AS FAR of Morocco, Kawempe Muslim Ladies of Uganda and USFAS Bamako of Mali.

The competition will run from November 1 to 15 in Egypt, bringing together eight of Africa’s leading women’s clubs in the battle for continental honours.

Ampem Darkoa will hope their hard-fought qualification provides the foundation for another impressive campaign, while their victory also ensures Ghana’s representation in the competition.

Setback for Nigerian women’s club football

Edo Queens’ elimination represents a disappointment for Nigerian women’s club football, particularly after the team had initially celebrated winning the WAFU Zone B final on penalties.

The Benin City-based club had the opportunity to represent Nigeria at the continental tournament but was forced to return to the pitch following CAF’s ruling.

Their exit leaves the club to reflect on a campaign shaped not only by the contest on the field but also by the regulatory dispute that followed the original final.

For Ampem Darkoa, the victory brings an end to the uncertainty surrounding the qualification battle and opens the door to another continental campaign.

After weeks of appeals, controversy and preparations for the rescheduled fixture, the outcome was finally decided on the pitch, with the Ghanaian champions taking the final WAFU Zone B place at Edo Queens’ expense.