CAF Cancels Edo Queens’ Penalty-Shootout Win, Orders Extra Time Against Ampem Darkoa
By Sedara Philip
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has annulled Edo Queens’ 4-1 penalty-shootout victory over Ghanaian side Ampem Darkoa Ladies in the WAFU Zone B qualifying final for the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League, ordering the decisive match to resume from the start of extra time.
The decision was contained in an official ruling dated September 26, 2026, by CAF’s Organising Committee for Women’s Football following a protest lodged by Ampem Darkoa over the procedure used to determine the winner of the September 5 final.
The match, played at the 4th of August Stadium in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, ended 2-2 after 90 minutes. However, instead of proceeding to two 15-minute periods of extra time as stipulated by the competition regulations, the match went directly to a penalty shootout, with Edo Queens eventually winning 4-1.
CAF has now ruled that the penalty shootout should not have taken place at that stage, confirming that the regulations required extra time to be played before penalties could be used to determine the winner.
According to CAF, the failure to play extra time was the result of an erroneous administrative instruction and was not attributable to either of the participating clubs.
The governing body explained that match officials had initially been informed that extra time was required if the match ended level. However, the referee was subsequently instructed to proceed directly to a penalty shootout should the scores remain level after regulation time.
Ampem Darkoa formally challenged the decision, arguing that the procedure violated Articles 13.1 and 72.4 of the CAF Women’s Champions League Regulations.
The Ghanaian club had requested either a complete replay of the final or that the match be resumed from the point at which regulation time ended, with the score at 2-2, followed by extra time and, if necessary, another penalty shootout.
CAF, however, rejected the option of replaying the entire match, maintaining that the 90 minutes already played were valid and had legitimately ended 2-2.
Instead, the Organising Committee ruled that the final should resume from the beginning of extra time, with the 2-2 score from regulation time retained.
As a result, Edo Queens’ 4-1 penalty-shootout victory has been annulled and will have no sporting effect.
The two sides will therefore return to the pitch to play two 15-minute periods of extra time. Should the scores remain level after the additional 30 minutes, a fresh penalty shootout will be conducted to determine the winner.
CAF has further directed that, as far as practically and legally possible, the continuation of the match should take place under the same sporting conditions that existed at the end of regulation time.
This includes consideration of the players who were on the pitch, eligible substitutes, disciplinary status and substitutions already made before the original match ended.
The same venue and match officials are also expected to be used, subject to confirmation by WAFU Zone B.
The West African Football Union Zone B (WAFU B) has been tasked with determining and communicating the date, kick-off time and venue for the continuation of the final in coordination with CAF and the two national football associations.
The stakes remain unchanged, with the winner of the resumed Edo Queens–Ampem Darkoa final earning the WAFU Zone B qualification ticket for the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League final tournament.
The latest CAF ruling means the contest is effectively back to 2-2, with both clubs facing another 30 minutes of extra time before penalties, if required, can finally decide the WAFU B representative.
Sedara Philip is a Sports writer, an administrator,Journalist,and editor
