CAF Annuls Edo Queens’ WAFU B Title, Orders Final To Resume From Extra-Time

CAF has annulled Edo Queens’ victory over Ghana’s Ampem Darkoa Ladies in the final of the WAFU Zone B qualifying tournament for the CAF Women’s Champions League and ordered the decisive match to resume from extra-time.

The Confederation of African Football’s Organising Committee for Women’s Football reached the decision in a reasoned ruling dated September 26, 2026, in Kinshasa, after upholding a protest filed by the Ghana Football Association on behalf of Ampem Darkoa.

The final, played on September 5 at the 4th of August Stadium in Ouagadougou, ended 2-2 after 90 minutes.

However, instead of playing the mandatory two 15-minute periods of extra-time, the match officials proceeded directly to a penalty shoot-out, with Edo Queens winning 4-1 to be crowned WAFU B champions.

CAF ruled that the penalty shoot-out was conducted in breach of the competition regulations and annulled its sporting effect.

According to the committee, reports from the referee and refereeing assessor established that the match officials had been reminded before the game and during the Match Coordination Meeting that extra-time was required if the final was level after 90 minutes.

However, during the second half, the referee was instructed to proceed directly to penalties if the match ended in a draw. CAF said the referee acted on the instruction in good faith.

The committee consequently determined that the failure to play extra-time was caused by an erroneous administrative instruction and the non-application of Articles 13.1 and 72.4 of the CAF Women’s Champions League Regulations.

Article 72.4 states that a final tied after regulation time must be decided by two 15-minute periods of extra-time before penalties can be used, while Article 13.1 extends the procedure to zonal qualifying finals.

Ampem Darkoa had lodged its protest within the stipulated 48-hour period on September 7 and confirmed it on September 9.

The Ghanaian club argued that the decision to go directly to penalties violated the regulations and affected its sporting and tactical decisions, including its management of substitutions, which had been made on the expectation that extra-time would be played.

Ampem Darkoa requested either a complete replay or that the match resume from extra-time.

CAF rejected the request for a full replay, ruling that the first 90 minutes were validly played and that no irregularity had affected that period.

Instead, the committee ordered the final to resume from the start of extra-time with the score still locked at 2-2.

The continuation will consist of two 15-minute periods. If the teams remain level after extra-time, a fresh penalty shoot-out will determine the winner.

CAF also ruled that the resumption must take place under the same sporting conditions that existed at the end of regulation time, including the players on the pitch, eligible substitutes, disciplinary status and substitutions already made.

WAFU B has been instructed to determine and communicate the date, kick-off time and venue for the resumption in coordination with CAF and the two national associations.

WAFU B will also bear the organisational costs of the continuation.

The ruling means Edo Queens’ 4-1 penalty-shootout victory no longer has any sporting effect, while the WAFU B title remains undecided until the extra-time continuation is completed.