CAF Women’s CL Draw Delayed, Bayelsa Queens Left in Limbo

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has postponed the draw for the upcoming Women’s Champions League qualifiers, leaving Nigeria’s Bayelsa Queens uncertain about their WAFU B region campaign. The delay means the national champions must wait to discover their opponents and match schedule for the zonal qualifiers.

Ordinarily, the WAFU B tournament serves as the gateway for West African clubs to reach the CAF Women’s Champions League an opportunity Bayelsa Queens earned by clinching the 2024–25 NWFL Premiership title. With the draw on hold, their preparations are caught in a holding pattern. Although they have unveiled a robust squad for the qualifiers, uncertainty over group composition complicates training and tactical planning.

Bayelsa Queens will now await CAF’s rescheduled draw, which is rumoured to happen in early August. Once confirmed, the club can finalise logistics, scouting and match readiness for the August 9–24 qualifier tournament in Ivory Coast.

Editorial

We believe CAF’s decision to postpone the draw, though likely logistical in origin, introduces unnecessary disruption into the campaign of Nigeria’s foremost women’s club. Bayelsa Queens merit clarity—especially after securing domestic glory and a return to the WAFU B qualifiers.

Scheduling uncertainty can undermine momentum. Training cycles, travel plans and tactical analysis thrive on known opponents and match dates. Without these, preparation takes on a reactive tone—less precise and more stressful.

We also think this moment underscores wider governance issues. CAF must balance tradition with efficiency. Clubs from West Africa deserve predictable planning to champion female club football on the continental stage. Delayed draws risk diminishing confidence in CAF’s organisational reliability.

For Bayelsa Queens, the delay tests patience and flexibility. Still, the club has shown professional resolve, unveiling a full squad and expressing intent to compete fiercely. Ironically, this postponement could galvanise internal unity as they focus on fundamentals rather than external distractions.

Now more than ever, leadership matters. The club’s technical team must reinforce routines, deepen conditioning and simulate scenarios ahead of opponent identification. When the draw eventually arrives, the team must be poised not panicked.

We argue that CAF should prioritise formal communication and contingency planning for women’s competitions. Organized, timely processes encourage respect for players, clubs and fans alike.

Bayelsa Queens are ready now CAF must match that readiness with a transparent schedule. The path to continental competition deserves certainty not suspense.

Did You Know?

1. Bayelsa Queens secured their sixth Nigeria Women Premier League title in May 2025, topping the 2024–25 Super Six after a 14‑match unbeaten run.
2. The 2025 WAFU B Women’s Champions League qualifying tournament is set to take place in Ivory Coast from 9 to 24 August.
3. Bayelsa Queens first appeared in the CAF Women’s Champions League in 2022 and finished third place in Morocco—the best finish by a Nigerian club to date.
4. The WAFU Zone B qualifiers consistently feature seven teams, each representing a member association from the sub‑region.
5. Bayelsa Queens are nicknamed “The Restoration Girls”, a reference to their origins and mission within Bayelsa State.