NFF Appeals CAF Ruling on Edo Queens’ WAFU-B Final Win

The Nigeria Football Federation has appealed CAF’s decision to annul Edo Queens’ victory in the 2026 WAFU-B Women’s Champions League qualifying final. The appeal was filed on Tuesday, September 29, in a letter dated September 28 and signed by Deputy General Secretary Emmanuel Edem Ikpeme.

It challenges a ruling of the CAF Organising Committee for Women’s Football dated September 26. That decision ordered the final to resume from extra time at 2-2 and told Edo Queens to return the trophy and medals.

How the Final Went Wrong

Edo Queens, the reigning NWFL Premiership champions, met Ghanaian champions Ampem Darkoa Ladies in the final on September 5 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Berline Nyarko gave Ampem Darkoa an early lead and Dooshima Tarnum levelled for Edo Queens, and the game finished 2-2 after 90 minutes. Edo Queens won the shoot-out 4-1 to claim the WAFU-B title and a place in the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League.

The Ghana Football Association then protested on behalf of Ampem Darkoa. CAF upheld the complaint, citing Article 72.4 of the competition regulations, which requires two 15-minute periods of extra time in a drawn final before penalties. Readers who follow the women’s game on the betting side can check today’s Bet9ja promo code while the dispute plays out.

CAF refused Ampem Darkoa’s request for a full replay and ordered extra time only. Its own investigation also found that neither club was to blame. According to the NFF, match officials had first been told extra time would be played, and the referee was told to go straight to penalties during the second half.

The NFF’s Case

The NFF argues that Edo Queens did nothing wrong. The club neither chose nor asked to skip extra time, it says, and simply followed the referee’s instruction. Winning the shoot out, in the federation’s view, can’t turn that compliance into responsibility for the breach.

It also draws a line between benefiting from an official’s error and causing it. Punishing a club that didn’t cause the mistake is hard to justify, the NFF says. Fans who back Nigerian clubs can also claim the YOHAIG code before the next round of fixtures.

The federation went further, questioning whether CAF has the authority to annul a completed shoot out and order a resumption when neither team is at fault. It has paid the required appeal fees and asked the CAF Appeals Committee to uphold the 4-1 result. The NFF says the players acted in good faith.

What Happens Next

Whoever wins the tie takes West Africa Zone B’s only ticket to the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League. No ruling on the appeal has been reported yet. As of September 30, CAF’s public Women’s Champions League pages still listed Edo Queens as WAFU-B winners, according to TheNigeriaLawyer.

Edo FA chairman Fred Erhunse confirmed that CAF asked the club to hand back the trophy and medals. “We have appealed through the Nigeria Football Federation to CAF,” he said.

Edo Queens won the Nigerian league title in June and now face a fight in the corridors of CAF instead. Anyone betting on Nigerian football can check the current Bet9ja promotion while the appeal is pending.

Should a team that followed the referee’s instructions lose a trophy over a rule it didn’t break? That’s the question now in front of the CAF Appeals Committee.