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NFF set to wage into Edo Queens’ WAFU-B plight
The Nigeria Football Federation is preparing to challenge the Confederation of African Football over its decision to annul Edo Queens’ penalty-shootout victory in the WAFU Zone B qualifying final for the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League.
Nigerian tabloid, Sports Unlimited hinted that the NFF legal team is expected to meet to examine CAF’s ruling and determine the federation’s next line of action as it moves to defend the Nigerian champions.
A top source said that the federation is determined to protect Edo Queens’ interests and explore available avenues for challenging the continental body’s decision.
“The NFF Legal Team is meeting on the issue this morning,” the source said.
The development follows CAF’s ruling on the controversial September 5 final between Edo Queens and Ghanaian champions Ampem Darkoa Ladies in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
The encounter ended 2-2 after 90 minutes, before the match officials proceeded directly to a penalty shootout. Edo Queens subsequently won 4-1 to claim the WAFU-B title and the zone’s qualification ticket for the CAF Women’s Champions League.
CAF initially recognised the result and Edo Queens were presented as WAFU-B champions. However, Ampem Darkoa lodged a protest, arguing that the competition regulations required the match to proceed into extra time before penalties.
CAF has now upheld the protest, determining that the direct use of penalties after regulation time was inconsistent with Article 72.4 of the competition regulations, which requires two 15-minute periods of extra time in a drawn final.
According to CAF’s decision, the failure to play extra time resulted from an administrative instruction and was not attributable to either participating club. CAF also stated that the referee acted in good faith after receiving the instruction to proceed directly to penalties.
Rather than ordering a complete replay, CAF annulled the penalty shootout and directed that the final resume from the beginning of extra time with the score standing at 2-2.
The two teams are to play two 15-minute periods of extra time, with another penalty shootout required if the scores remain level after the additional 30 minutes.
CAF’s decision also provides that, as far as practically and legally possible, the continuation should preserve the sporting conditions that existed at the end of the original 90 minutes, including the relevant player, substitution and disciplinary status.
The eventual winner of the resumed contest will take the WAFU Zone B qualification ticket for the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League final tournament.
The ruling has generated considerable controversy in Nigerian football circles, particularly because Edo Queens had initially been recognised as champions following the penalty victory.
For the NFF, the immediate priority is now expected to be a detailed examination of CAF’s decision, the competition regulations and the circumstances surrounding the instruction that led to the penalty shootout.
The federation’s legal response could determine whether it seeks clarification, review or another form of redress from CAF, although the precise nature of any formal challenge had not been publicly announced at the time of this report.
The situation leaves Edo Queens’ continental qualification unresolved, with the Nigerian champions facing the prospect of returning to the field to complete the final against Ampem Darkoa.
Until the extra-time contest is concluded, neither side can be confirmed as the WAFU-B representative for the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League final tournament.