By Simpson Global Media News Desk
Date: Thursday, 22 October 2026 · Location: Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria
Edo Queens have accepted the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision to resume their disputed WAFU-B qualifying final against Ghana’s Ampem Darkoa Ladies, setting up another decisive encounter for the Nigerian champions as they pursue a place in the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League.
The club announced its position on Thursday, October 22, after CAF’s Appeal Board upheld a ruling that annulled Edo Queens’ 4–1 penalty-shootout victory in the original final. The match is to resume from the beginning of extra time, with the score level at 2–2. The continuation is scheduled for Egypt on October 29, according to Premium Times. Source: Premium Times
The decision means neither club has yet secured the WAFU-B qualifying ticket for the continental tournament. Edo Queens must now settle the contest on the pitch, despite believing that their original penalty victory had earned them the regional title.
How the dispute began
The controversy dates back to September 5, when Edo Queens faced Ampem Darkoa Ladies in the WAFU Zone B qualifying final at the 4th of August Stadium in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
The match ended 2–2 after regulation time. Instead of playing the required two 15-minute periods of extra time, however, the teams proceeded directly to a penalty shootout.
Edo Queens won the shootout 4–1, and the result initially appeared to secure the Nigerian side the regional title and a place in the CAF Women’s Champions League.
Ampem Darkoa subsequently challenged the procedure through the Ghana Football Association, arguing that competition regulations required extra time to be played before penalties could determine the winner.
CAF’s Organising Committee for Women’s Football reviewed the protest and ruled that the penalty shootout should not stand. The committee ordered the final to resume from the beginning of extra time, with the score remaining 2–2.
The ruling did not order the teams to replay the entire match. The first 90 minutes remain valid, and only the outstanding extra time and, if necessary, a new penalty shootout are required. Sources: Ghana Football Association, MyJoyOnline
Why CAF annulled the penalty result
The central issue concerns the procedure for deciding a drawn final.
CAF determined that the competition regulations required two 15-minute periods of extra time after the teams finished level at the end of normal time. A penalty shootout could take place only if the score remained tied after those additional 30 minutes.
The governing body attributed the failure to play extra time to an administrative instruction that was inconsistent with the regulations. Its earlier decision indicated that neither club was responsible for the procedural error and that the referee had acted in good faith when the match proceeded directly to penalties.
The distinction is important. CAF did not establish that Edo Queens had caused the error by winning the shootout. Instead, it concluded that the result could not stand because the prescribed process for determining the winner had not been completed.
The Nigerian club and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) challenged the decision, arguing that Edo Queens should not bear the sporting consequences of an error made by match officials.
However, the CAF Appeal Board upheld the original ruling in its decision of October 16. It confirmed that the penalty result had no sporting effect and that the match must resume from the 2–2 scoreline at the start of extra time. Sources: MyJoyOnline, ACL Sports
Edo Queens accept the ruling and turn attention to the pitch
Following the unsuccessful appeal, Edo Queens said they had accepted CAF’s position after consultations with the club’s board, the Edo State Government and the NFF.
The club acknowledged that the outcome was not what it had hoped for. Nevertheless, it said it was prepared to continue the match so that the winner could be determined through football.
Its statement also thanked the state government, the NFF, supporters and members of the media who backed the team throughout the dispute.
The club’s immediate priority is now preparation for the continuation of the final. The players and technical crew must approach the contest knowing that the original 4–1 shootout result no longer determines qualification.
Edo Queens have emphasised that their ambition to represent WAFU-B in the continental competition remains unchanged.
Accepting the ruling does not mean the club has achieved its sporting objective. It means the team must now focus on the opportunity still available: winning the outstanding portion of the final and securing qualification under the procedure set by CAF. Source: Premium Times
What will happen when the match resumes?
The continuation is to begin with the score at 2–2. The teams will play two 15-minute periods of extra time.
If either side establishes a lead after the additional 30 minutes, that team will win the final. If the score remains level, the contest will proceed to a new penalty shootout.
CAF has also directed that different match officials be appointed for the continuation, replacing those who oversaw the original fixture.
The arrangements are intended to ensure that the remaining part of the match is completed according to the applicable regulations.
The winner will become the WAFU-B representative at the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League in Egypt. The continental tournament is scheduled for November 1–5, making the regional final particularly important for both clubs. Sources: Ghana Football Association, Premium Times
A difficult test for both teams
For Edo Queens, the situation presents a challenge that goes beyond the normal demands of a final.
The Nigerian champions must prepare to play a short but potentially decisive period after weeks of uncertainty over whether their original victory would be restored. The club will need to manage the psychological pressure of returning to a match it believed it had already won.
Ampem Darkoa, meanwhile, have another opportunity to secure the regional ticket after their protest led to the annulment of the shootout result.
Neither side can afford to treat the continuation as a routine fixture. With the score level and only 30 minutes guaranteed before a possible shootout, the match could be decided by a single goal, a defensive mistake, a tactical adjustment or the composure of players from the penalty spot.
The teams must also work within the match conditions and eligibility arrangements established for the resumption. The governing body's instructions, rather than assumptions about the original result, will determine how the contest proceeds.
The importance of the continental opportunity
Qualification for the CAF Women’s Champions League offers the regional winner an opportunity to compete against leading clubs from across Africa.
For Nigerian women’s football, Edo Queens’ pursuit of the place is part of the wider effort to maintain the country’s presence in continental club competition and provide players with opportunities to test themselves against teams from other football systems.
A place in the tournament would offer sporting exposure and a chance to demonstrate the strength of the club and the domestic game. It would also require careful preparation, including squad readiness, travel arrangements and planning for opponents who may have different styles and strengths.
Those possibilities remain conditional. Edo Queens must first complete the WAFU-B final and win the contest before any qualification plans can be treated as confirmed.
The same applies to Ampem Darkoa, who remain in contention until the outstanding match is decided.
What the dispute means for football administration
The controversy has also drawn attention to the importance of clear instructions and consistent application of competition regulations.
Match officials are responsible for managing fixtures, but competitions depend on administrative systems that ensure those officials receive accurate information and follow the rules governing each stage.
When an instruction conflicts with the regulations, the consequences can extend beyond the match itself. Clubs may face additional travel, preparation and financial demands, while players and supporters are left waiting for a result to be settled.
In this case, CAF’s decision preserves the 90 minutes already played while requiring the teams to complete the extra time that should have followed the draw. The appeal process has now confirmed that approach.
The dispute demonstrates why competition organisers must communicate procedures clearly before important matches and ensure that officials, clubs and administrators share a common understanding of the rules.
It also illustrates the need for transparent appeal processes when clubs challenge decisions that affect titles and qualification places.
What supporters should watch for
The most immediate question is whether Edo Queens can turn the setback into a successful finish or whether Ampem Darkoa will take advantage of the opportunity to claim the ticket.
Supporters should look for official confirmation of the match arrangements, including the final date, venue and kick-off time. CAF and the relevant football associations remain the authoritative sources for those details.
The match itself will begin from a level score, meaning neither side carries a lead into extra time. The first goal could change the tactical balance, while a draw after 120 minutes would make penalties decisive once again.
The appointment of different match officials is another confirmed element of the resumption. The teams will have to focus on the playing conditions and the task ahead rather than the result that was annulled.
Conclusion
Edo Queens’ acceptance of CAF’s ruling brings the dispute into a new phase. The Nigerian champions have lost the benefit of their original 4–1 penalty-shootout victory, but their opportunity to qualify for the CAF Women’s Champions League remains alive.
The final will resume from 2–2, with two 15-minute periods of extra time and a new shootout if necessary. The winner will represent WAFU-B at the continental tournament in Egypt.
For both Edo Queens and Ampem Darkoa Ladies, the outcome will now be decided on the pitch. For football administrators, the case is a reminder that competition procedures must be applied consistently and that errors can carry consequences long after the final whistle.
Sources: Premium Times · Ghana Football Association · MyJoyOnline
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