Edo Queens of Nigeria and Ghana’s Ampem Darkoa Ladies will meet in the WAFU B Women’s Champions League qualifiers final after both sides recorded emphatic semi-final victories in Ouagadougou on Wednesday.
Edo Queens swept aside hosts USFA 5-1 in the first semi-final before unbeaten Ampem Darkoa defeated Benin’s FC Dynamique 4-1 to book their place in the decider.
The final will be a rematch of their Group B encounter, which Ampem Darkoa won 2-1, handing Edo Queens their only defeat of the tournament.
More significantly, the two West African heavyweights will now battle for the WAFU B title and a place in the CAF Women’s Champions League.
Edo Queens put five past hosts USFA
Edo Queens produced one of their most impressive attacking displays of the tournament to end the hopes of hosts USFA.
Doosuur Anastasia opened the scoring after 17 minutes, taking her tournament tally to four goals and strengthening her challenge for the Golden Boot.
Esther Moses joined her on four goals when she doubled Edo Queens’ advantage in the 43rd minute with a fine finish.
Captain Valentina Uroko then struck a superb free-kick to make it 3-0 before the interval and leave USFA with a mountain to climb.
The Nigerian champions showed no signs of easing off after the restart, with Dooshima Tarnum scoring their fourth just two minutes into the second half with a spectacular effort directly from a corner.
Aminat Ajoke Folorunsho added the fifth in the 63rd minute to put the outcome beyond doubt.
Windkuuni Leslie Beremwidougou eventually pulled one back for USFA, but it proved no more than a consolation as Edo Queens completed a commanding 5-1 victory.
Uroko was named Player of the Match following an influential performance for the Nigerian side.
Ampem Darkoa maintain unbeaten run
Ampem Darkoa were just as convincing in the second semi-final as they continued their unbeaten campaign with a 4-1 victory over FC Dynamique.
Milot Abena Pokuaa gave the Ghanaian champions the lead in the 16th minute after beating the offside trap before calmly finishing.
Rebecca Assemani doubled their advantage 12 minutes later, cleverly sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.
Gloria Adomako Ameaa then converted an Assemani cross in the 38th minute to give Ampem Darkoa a commanding 3-0 lead at half-time.
FC Dynamique briefly threatened a response shortly after the restart when Ijeoma Anagha’s long-range effort swerved beyond goalkeeper Rose Baah.
Any hopes of a comeback were ended in the 66th minute, however, when Pokuaa struck for the second time to restore Ampem Darkoa’s three-goal advantage.
Victoria Banful later had an opportunity to extend the lead after Angelina Yeboah was brought down inside the penalty area, but she failed to convert the resulting spot-kick.
It made little difference to the outcome, with Ampem Darkoa comfortably seeing out the remainder of the contest to maintain their unbeaten record.
Two-goal Pokuaa was named Woman of the Match for her performance.
Repeat or revenge in final showdown
The final brings together the tournament’s two most potent attacking sides, with Edo Queens and Ampem Darkoa having scored 27 goals between them.
Edo Queens have found the net 16 times while conceding four, with Ampem Darkoa scoring 11 and allowing only two goals.
There will also be plenty at stake in the individual scoring battle.
Edo Queens duo Anastasia and Moses lead the Golden Boot race with four goals each, while Ampem Darkoa’s Pokuaa and Ameaa, along with Edo Queens’ Tarnum, have three apiece.
But the biggest subplot will be whether Ampem Darkoa can repeat their group-stage victory or Edo Queens can gain revenge when it matters most.
The Ghanaian champions defeated their Nigerian rivals 2-1 in their final Group B match, a result that ensured Ampem Darkoa finished top of the section and remains the only blemish on Edo Queens’ campaign.
Ampem Darkoa will therefore go into the final knowing they have already found a way past the Nigerian champions.
Edo Queens, however, have responded impressively to that setback and their five-goal semi-final performance underlined the attacking threat they will carry into the rematch.
With the WAFU B crown and qualification for the CAF Women’s Champions League on the line, the second meeting between the two sides will decide which of the region’s leading women’s clubs earns the ultimate reward
