NFF appeals CAF’s annulment of Edo Queens’ WAFU-B final win over Ampem Darkoa
NFF has appealed CAF's cancellation of Edo Queens' 4-1 penalty shootout victory over Ampem Darkoa Ladies in the WAFU-B Women's Champions League qualifier played on September 5, 2026. CAF annulled the result on September 26, 2026, ruling the final should have gone into 30 minutes of extra time before penalties, and ordered a replay from 2-2 at the start of extra time with a fresh shootout if needed. The NFF's appeal letter, dated September 28, 2026 and signed by Deputy General Secretary Emmanuel Edem Ikpeme, was sent to the CAF Appeals Board president in Egypt, stating Edo Queens paid the required appeal fees.
The NFF argues Edo Queens were not given a fair hearing and should not bear the sporting consequences of an officials' error they neither caused nor requested. It insists the club complied with the referee's instruction to decide the winner from the spot, did not elect or request extra time, and therefore cannot be made responsible for the procedural breach. CAF's own ruling found the failure to play extra time stemmed from an administrative instruction, with neither team at fault.
The NFF contends CAF's authority to establish a regulatory irregularity does not grant it unlimited power to impose any remedy, demanding the Appeals Committee determine whether regulations specifically authorise annulling a completed penalty shootout and resuming from extra time when clubs are innocent. It warns any remedy must have a clear regulatory foundation and be proportionate to the breach. The appeal seeks to restore Edo Queens' victory and secure their place in the CAF Women's Champions League 2026, avoiding a rematch that could jeopardize Nigeria's representation in the tournament. Will the CAF Appeals Committee uphold Edo Queens' victory, or will Nigerian women's football face another replay that could affect their continental aspirations?