Edo Queens petition CAF to overturn Ampem Darkoa's WAFU B victory

Nigerian side Edo Queens have petitioned the Confederation of African Football (CAF), seeking to overturn Ampem Darkoa Ladies' qualification for the 2026 CAF Women's Champions League following Thursday's controversial WAFU Zone B final.

Edo Queens have asked CAF to declare the continuation of the final, played in Cairo, Egypt, on October 29, null and void, citing concerns over the venue, player eligibility and match arrangements.

Ampem Darkoa secured qualification for the continental competition after beating Edo Queens 3-2 on aggregate, with Afishata Mohammed scoring the decisive goal in the 92nd minute of extra time.

The latest petition is the latest development in a dispute that began during the teams' original meeting in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on September 5.

That match ended 2-2 after 90 minutes before Edo Queens won the penalty shoot-out 4-1 to initially claim the WAFU Zone B title.

However, CAF's Organising Committee ruled on September 26 that the penalty shoot-out had no sporting effect and ordered the match to resume from the start of extra time, with the score remaining 2-2.

The decision was subsequently upheld by the CAF Appeal Board on October 16, paving the way for the fixture to be continued in Cairo.

Edo Queens have now challenged the circumstances surrounding the rescheduled encounter, arguing that the change of venue from Ouagadougou to Cairo was made without the required confirmation from WAFU Zone B.

The Nigerian club also claims that the conditions necessary to ensure a fair continuation of the match were not restored.

According to the petition, Edo Queens were prevented from fielding eligible players who had featured in the original encounter.

The club has also raised concerns about its delegation being accommodated at a military base rather than a conventional team hotel.

Edo Queens further allege that they were not given adequate and timely information about the venue, kick-off time and other match arrangements, which they believe affected their preparations.

The club is asking CAF to treat the petition as urgent and suspend final confirmation of the WAFU Zone B qualification place until a determination has been made.

Among its demands, Edo Queens want CAF to declare the October 29 continuation null and void and direct WAFU B to produce relevant match documents, including venue confirmation, match sheets, substitution records, player eligibility lists and disciplinary records.

They have also requested a full 90-minute replay at the original venue, with eligible players and under properly regulated conditions.

Alternatively, the Nigerian side wants to be declared winners of the WAFU Zone B tournament if a replay cannot be completed before the CAF Women's Champions League begins on November 1.

The petition, however, does not automatically overturn Ampem Darkoa's victory, with CAF yet to announce a decision on the latest complaint.

Ampem Darkoa's qualification secured Ghana's representation at the 2026 CAF Women's Champions League, where the Ghanaian champions are scheduled to compete in Group B alongside defending champions AS FAR of Morocco, Uganda's Kawempe Muslim Ladies and USFAS Bamako of Mali.

The tournament is scheduled to run in Egypt from November 1 to 15.

Ampem Darkoa, who finished fourth during their previous appearance in the competition in 2023, will be hoping to improve on that performance.

However, Edo Queens' latest petition has cast fresh uncertainty over the WAFU Zone B qualification dispute just days before the continental tournament gets under way.