Bayelsa Queens fall to ASEC Mimosa, Nigeria miss out on CAF Women’s Champions League

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

For only the second time in history, Nigeria will not be represented at the CAF Women’s Champions League, after Bayelsa Queens fell 8-7 on penalties to hosts ASEC Mimosa in the final of the WAFU-B Women’s Champions League Qualifiers on Friday.

At the Stade Charles Konan Banny, the Ivorians struck first through Ami Diallo, who opened the scoring in the sixth minute. The Prosperity Girls hit back quickly, with Emem Essien equalising in the 18th minute to restore parity.

Neither side could find a breakthrough across 120 minutes, sending the contest to penalties. After an initial 4-4 tie in the first five spot kicks, the shootout went into sudden death. Bayelsa Queens were the first to blink, missing their decisive attempt, which handed ASEC Mimosa the regional crown and a ticket to the 2025 CAF Women’s Champions League.

Since the inception of the CAF Women’s Champions League in 2021, Nigerian clubs had only once failed to qualify— Delta Queens missed out in 2023 after losing 1-0 to Ampem Darkoa of Ghana in the WAFU-B final.

This latest setback means Nigeria will miss the continental tournament for the second time in five editions, despite reaching every WAFU-B final.

With their triumph, ASEC Mimosa also made history, becoming the first club outside Nigeria and Ghana to win the WAFU-B Qualifiers.

They also became the first host team to win the tournament after Delta Queens came close in 2023.

It was a reward for hard work and consistent hosting of the WAFU-B Qualifiers since inception as Cote D’Ivoire hosted four of the five editions with Nigeria in 2023 the only time the country didn’t stage the competition as a result of hosting the CAF Women’s Champions League in preparation for 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) facility test run.

Winners of the WAFU-B Qualifiers

2021: Hasaacas Ladies (Ghana)

2022: Bayelsa Queens (Nigeria)

2023: Ampem Darkoa (Ghana)

2024: Edo Queens (Nigeria)

2025: ASEC Mimosa (Côte d’Ivoire)

Oluwaseun Oyediji

Oluwaseun Babatunde Oyediji is a multi-media sports journalist with over 10 years experience in Information Communication Technology (ICT), women's football, and beach soccer reportage.The prolific writer is the Media Assistant to Nigeria Beach Soccer League and Africa Beach Soccer Union as well as contributor on Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) website.He has covered multiple national and international football tournaments including Championship of African Nations (CHAN 2020), CAF Women's Champions League (2023), and Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2023).Since 2021, Oyediji has covered the NWFL Premiership especially the season ending Super Six Playoffs.A member of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Ogun state chapter is also the image maker of the Remo Sports Development Council under the leadership of Chief Falilat Ogunkoya and David Osuolale.

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