Nigeria Women’s Football League champions Edo Queens have petitioned the Confederation of African Football (CAF), looking for to overturn their 3-2 extra-time defeat to Ghanaian champions Ampem Darkoa Ladies within the disputed final of the 2026 WAFU-B Women’s Champions League.
In a petition dated after Thursday’s encounter, Edo Queens requested CAF to declare the continuation of the final, performed on 29 October, null and void, citing alleged irregularities within the venue change, match preparations and eligibility of gamers.
The Nigerian membership additionally urged the continental governing physique to droop affirmation of the regional qualification slot for the CAF Women’s Champions League pending the dedication of its criticism.
The contemporary protest follows a contentious sequence of selections that overturned Edo Queens’ preliminary victory within the regional final and gave each groups one other alternative to contest the title.
How Ampem Darkoa gained
Ampem Darkoa secured the WAFU-B title after defeating Edo Queens 3-2 following further time within the rescheduled conclusion to the final.
The encounter adopted the unique assembly between the perimeters on 5 September in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, which ended 2-2 after 90 minutes.
Edo Queens subsequently gained the penalty shoot-out 4-1 and initially appeared to have secured the regional championship and qualification for the continental competitors.
However, Ampem Darkoa challenged the result, prompting CAF’s Organising Committee to rule on 26 September that the penalty shoot-out had no sporting impact.
The determination, subsequently upheld by the CAF Appeal Board on 16 October, directed that the match resume from the start of additional time with the rating nonetheless at 2-2.
When play finally continued on Thursday, Ampem Darkoa struck the decisive blow simply two minutes into further time to safe the 3-2 victory.
The Ghanaian champions thereby claimed the WAFU-B title and the zone’s qualification place for the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League.
The triumph marks Ampem Darkoa’s return to the continental competitors for the second time of their historical past, having beforehand featured in 2023 in Côte d’Ivoire.
Edo Queens’ considerations
In its petition, Edo Queens recognized three principal grounds for difficult the continuation of the final.
First, the membership questioned the relocation of the match from Ouagadougou to Cairo, Egypt, alleging that the transfer occurred with out the required affirmation from the West African Football Union Zone B (WAFU-B), as stipulated within the CAF determination.
Second, the Nigerian facet alleged that sporting circumstances had not been correctly restored earlier than the continuation of the match.
The membership claimed it was prevented from fielding eligible gamers who had participated within the authentic encounter. It additionally raised considerations in regards to the lodging offered for its delegation, alleging that members had been housed at a army base somewhat than a traditional resort.
Third, Edo Queens complained about what it described as insufficient official communication regarding the venue, kick-off time and different match preparations, arguing that the alleged shortcomings may have affected its preparations.
These allegations are contained within the membership’s petition and haven’t been independently established.
What Edo Queens need from CAF
Beyond looking for the annulment of Thursday’s consequence, Edo Queens has requested CAF to direct WAFU-B to produce paperwork relating to the disputed fixture.
These embrace the required venue affirmation, match sheets, substitution information, participant eligibility lists and disciplinary information.
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The Nigerian membership can be looking for an order for a full 90-minute replay below correctly regulated circumstances, with eligible gamers and on the authentic venue.
Alternatively, if a replay can’t be accomplished earlier than the beginning of the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League on 1 November, Edo Queens needs CAF to declare it the winner of the WAFU-B match.
The requested cures stay proposals by the membership, and no determination on the contemporary petition was included within the info offered.
Meanwhile, Ampem Darkoa are making ready for the continental match in Egypt, the place they’ve been drawn in Group B alongside Morocco’s AS FAR, Uganda’s Kawempe Muslim Ladies and Mali’s USFAS Bamako.
The CAF Women’s Champions League is scheduled to run from 1 to 15 November, leaving a slim window for any additional intervention that would have an effect on the regional qualification consequence.
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