The NFF appeals the decision to annul the Edo Queens vs Ampem final

The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has formally appealed CAF’s decision to annul Edo Queens’ victory in the 2026 WAFU-B Women’s Champions League qualifying final.

The appeal, presented on Tuesday, September 30 and signed by the deputy general secretary, Emmanuel Edem Ikpeme, challenges the ruling of the CAF Women’s Football Organizing Committee of September 26.

Edo Queens had won the final against Ghanaian champions Ampem Darkoa Ladies on September 5 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The match ended 2-2 after 90 minutes before Edo Queens won 4-1 on penalties to claim the WAFU-B title and the ticket to the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League.

However, following a protest by the Ghana Football Association on behalf of Ampem Darkoa, CAF ruled on Sunday that the result could not stand. The CAF cited article 72.4 of the competition regulations that requires two 15-minute overtime periods before penalties in the final.

CAF ordered the final to resume from extra time at 2-2 and ordered Edo Queens to return the trophy and medals.

In its appeal, the NFF argued that Edo Queens should not be punished for an error made by the match referees.

Read also: Edo Queens rewarded with N50 million for WAFU B Women’s Champions League triumph

> “Edo Queens did not choose or request that extra time be waived. The fact that Edo Queens ultimately won the penalty shootout cannot retrospectively convert its compliance with the referee’s instructions into liability for the regulatory offence,” the NFF stated.

The Federation noted that CAF’s own investigation found that neither club was responsible: the referees had initially been told that extra time would be played before the referee was later ordered, during the second half, to go straight to penalties.

> “There is an important distinction between benefiting from a referee’s error and causing or provoking the error. It is therefore difficult to justify a solution that effectively eliminates the sporting consequences of the Edo Queens penalty shoot-out, where the club was not responsible,” the NFF argued.

Edo FA president Fred Erhunse confirmed: “They asked us to return the trophy and medals. We have appealed to CAF through the Nigerian Football Federation.”

The NFF has paid the required appeal fees and is asking CAF to reinstate the Edo Queens result, insisting that the players acted in good faith and simply obeyed the referee’s instructions.

The winner of the tie will take the only West African Zone B ticket to the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League.