Defending Champions of the Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) Edo Queens FC will face Ghanaian champions Ampem Darkoa Ladies in a mouth-watering WAFU-B CAF Women’s Champions League qualifying final on Saturday, with the regional title and a place at the continental showpiece at stake.
The two West African giants set up the showdown in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, after recording emphatic victories in their respective semi-final fixtures on Wednesday.
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Edo Queens produced one of their most impressive performances of the tournament, thrashing Burkina Faso’s USFA FC 5-1, while unbeaten Ampem Darkoa Ladies defeated Benin Republic’s FC Dynamique 4-1 to book their place in the final.
The decisive encounter will take place at the August 4 Stadium in Ouagadougou and will be the second meeting between the two sides in this year’s competition.
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Ampem Darkoa claimed a 2-1 victory when the teams met in their final Group B encounter, handing Edo Queens their only defeat of the tournament so far.
That result is now providing extra motivation for the Nigerian champions, who are determined to avenge their group-stage loss and end their campaign with the WAFU-B trophy.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s showdown, the Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, expressed confidence in the team and challenged the players to give their all to secure victory.
“The girls are ready and good to go. Big task, no doubt, but we have the confidence that the cup is going back to Edo State in Nigeria,” Enabulele said.
He also thanked Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, for his support while calling on Nigerians to continue praying for the team.
“I also want to use this medium to thank the Executive Governor, His Excellency Senator Monday Okpebholo, for his support so far. All we need from our fans across the country is just prayers. Edo is ready.
“We are not scared of the Ghanaian team. The spirit in camp is high; the players know that Nigerians expect them to deliver. And by the special grace of God, the trophy is going to Nigeria.”
Captain of the side, Uroko Valentina, has also assured Nigerians that the Edo Queens are ready to overcome Ampem Darkoa and claim the trophy.
She believes the team’s journey has been built on faith and hard work and says lifting the trophy would be a special achievement for Edo Queens.
“It is God and hard work that … brought us this far. We are ready. I will be the happiest person in Edo Queens to win the WAFU-B trophy for the second time. We are ready for war against the Ampem Darkoa Ladies of Ghana. It is a game of our lives,” she said.
Edo Queens head into the final as the tournament’s leading goalscorers, having scored 16 goals so far.
NWFL Premiership top scorer Atume is also in contention for the tournament’s top-scoring award. It could strengthen her position with another goal-scoring performance in what promises to be a crucial final.
READ ALSO: CAFWCLQ: Edo Queens thrash USFA to reach WAFU-B final
The Benin-based side emphatically began their campaign, whitewashing AS Garde Nationale of the Niger Republic 7-0 in their opening Group B fixture.
They followed that with a 3-1 victory over ASEC Mimosas of Côte d’Ivoire before suffering their only setback against Ampem Darkoa, who edged them 2-1 in their third group match.
The Nigerian champions responded strongly in the semi-final, dismantling USFA 5-1 to reach the final and set up another opportunity to face their Ghanaian conquerors.
Ampem Darkoa, meanwhile, remain unbeaten and will be looking to complete their campaign with another victory over Edo Queens.
Beyond the regional title, Saturday’s final carries even greater significance, as the winners will represent West Africa at the CAF Women’s Champions League proper in South Africa later this year.
For Edo Queens, it is an opportunity to settle an old score, retain their WAFU-B crown and secure another historic qualification for the continent’s biggest women’s club competition.
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