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The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially annulled the 4-1 penalty shootout victory of Nigeria’s Edo Queens over Ghana’s Ampem Darkoa Ladies in the WAFU Zone B qualifying final. The continental football governing body ruled that the match, which originally took place on September 5, 2026, must resume from the beginning of extra time with the score tied at 2-2. This unprecedented decision aims to rectify a significant procedural error committed by match officials during the original encounter, ensuring the competition follows established regulations.
The decision follows a formal protest lodged by the Ghana Football Association (GFA), which highlighted that the correct sequence of play was ignored during the high-stakes final. According to tournament rules, matches ending in a draw during the knockout stages must proceed to two 15-minute periods of extra time before a penalty shootout can be considered. However, officials incorrectly bypassed the extra-time phase and moved directly to the spot-kicks after the 90 minutes of regular play concluded. CAF’s intervention nullifies those results, restoring the match to its state at the end of regulation to preserve the integrity of the game.
Under the new directive, the two sides will return to the pitch to compete in the mandated 30 minutes of extra play. If the score remains level after this period, a new penalty shootout will be conducted to determine the winner. CAF emphasized that this course of action is necessary to avoid giving an unfair advantage to either team and to rectify the administrative oversight of the officiating crew. The resumption ensures that the eventual champion qualifies based on a complete adherence to the technical rules governing the CAF Women’s Champions League.
The winner of this resumed fixture will secure the regional qualification spot for the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League final tournament. For Ampem Darkoa Ladies, the ruling provides a vital opportunity to fight for the title on the pitch rather than through a contested administrative error. As both teams prepare for the unique challenge of playing only the extra-time periods, the ruling serves as a reminder of the importance of regulatory precision in professional football. This decision has been widely seen as a victory for fair play and administrative accountability within African women's football.