Nigeria’s Edo Queens and Ghana’s Ampem Darkoa Ladies have both booked their places in the semi-finals of the WAFU B Women’s Champions League qualifiers. The two sides have been dominant in Group B, each collecting six points from their opening two matches in Ouagadougou to guarantee progression with a game to spare.
Edo Queens have been the tournament’s most potent attacking force so far, scoring 10 goals across their two fixtures. Their campaign began with a resounding 7-0 victory over Niger’s AS Garde Nationale, before they followed that up with a 3-1 win against Côte d’Ivoire’s ASEC Mimosas.
Ampem Darkoa have taken a slightly different path to the last four, combining defensive resilience with clinical finishing. The Ghanaian champions edged ASEC Mimosas 1-0 in their opener and then produced a commanding 4-0 victory over AS Garde Nationale.
Those results set up a direct showdown on Sunday between Edo Queens and Ampem Darkoa to decide who finishes top of Group B. Both teams are already assured of semi-final football, but the group winner could secure a more favourable route through the knockout rounds.
USFA Lead the Way in Group A
Hosts USFA have taken control of the three-team Group A after a strong start. The Burkina Faso side beat Benin’s FC Dynamique 3-0 in their opening match, a result that could prove decisive given the smaller number of fixtures in the group.
USFA will complete their group campaign against Togo’s ASKO de Kara on Saturday. ASKO and FC Dynamique are still battling for the remaining semi-final position, with ASKO knowing that anything other than a four-goal defeat against USFA would be enough to take them through.
Individual Performances Catch the Eye
Several players have already made significant individual contributions during the opening matchdays.
Edo Queens forward Esther Moses delivered the standout goalscoring display of the qualifiers so far, netting a hat-trick in the 7-0 win over AS Garde Nationale. She became the first player at this year’s competition to score three times in a single match and was named Woman of the Match for her efforts.
Her team-mate Oluwakemi Adegbuyi has also emerged as one of the tournament’s exciting young prospects. The 16-year-old scored and provided an assist in the victory over ASEC Mimosas, with her pace and technical ability causing persistent problems for the Ivorian defence. Her display earned her the Woman of the Match award, and Edo Queens coach Kennedy Boboye has suggested the teenager’s development could eventually take her into contention for Nigeria’s senior national team.
Ampem Darkoa have been inspired by midfielder Nancy Amoh, whose movement and influence have been central to the Ghanaian side’s perfect start. Amoh has scored once in her two appearances and has also collected a Woman of the Match award.
For hosts USFA, Deborah Guira made an immediate impact after coming off the bench against FC Dynamique. The winger contributed a goal and an assist in the 3-0 victory and was named Woman of the Match.
Semi-Final Picture Taking Shape
With the group stage nearing its conclusion, attention now turns to the final fixtures and the make-up of the semi-finals. Edo Queens and Ampem Darkoa have removed any uncertainty over qualification from Group B, but their meeting on Sunday will determine the group winner and potentially shape their respective routes through the knockout rounds.
In Group A, USFA’s impressive opening performance has put the Burkina Faso representatives in a strong position, while ASKO de Kara and FC Dynamique remain in contention.
The early results have highlighted the depth of women’s club football across the WAFU B region, with teams from Nigeria, Ghana and Burkina Faso setting the pace in Ouagadougou. For Edo Queens, Ampem Darkoa and USFA, however, strong starts represent only the beginning of the challenge as they pursue the ultimate prize – emerging as WAFU B’s representative on the continental stage.
Source: Wafu B Women's Champions League Qualifiers – Edo Queens, Ampem Darkoa Seal Semi-Final Places