CAF's Appeal Board has thrown out Edo Queens' bid to save their shoot-out win, forcing a restart from extra time against Ghana's Ampem Darkoa.
Nigeria's Edo Queens have lost their fight to keep a penalty shoot-out victory over Ghana's Ampem Darkoa Ladies, after the CAF Appeal Board dismissed their appeal and confirmed the annulment of the result in the 2026 CAF Women's Champions League WAFU-B qualifying final.
In a ruling dated October 16, the Board backed the September 26 decision of CAF's Organising Committee for Women's Football. That decision wiped out Edo Queens' 4-1 shoot-out win, which followed a 2-2 draw in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on September 5. The Nigerian side argued they should not be punished for a procedural error, saying they simply followed the instructions of the appointed match officials.
The Board was not swayed. Both clubs must now return to the final from the start of extra time, with the score locked at 2-2. Two 15-minute periods will be played, and if the teams are still level afterward, a penalty shoot-out will decide who goes through. CAF must also appoint a different set of match officials for the rescheduled tie.
The Board further ruled that any irregularity in the original proceedings was remedied by giving both clubs the chance to present their cases, in line with Article 59(1) of CAF's regulations. For Edo Queens and Ampem Darkoa, a continental ticket is back on the line, and this time there is no room for confusion on the touchline.
