Ampem Darkoa Ladies from Ghana have advanced to the semifinals of the West Africa Zone B (WAFU B) Women’s Champions League qualifiers.
This development comes after one of their group-stage opponents, AS Garde National of Niger, officially withdrew from the competition. The reason cited for their withdrawal is the closure of their country’s air and land borders due to the ongoing political unrest in the West African nation.
With AS Garde National’s exit, Ampem Darkoa Ladies and Amis Du Monde from Togo remain as the only participants in Group B. Consequently, both teams have automatically secured qualification to the semifinals of the tournament.
The two teams are set to face each other in a single group-stage match on Friday, August 25, which will determine the group winner proceeding to the semifinals.
Meanwhile, Group A matches will continue as scheduled, featuring Delta Queens from Nigeria, Athletico D’Abidjan from Ivory Coast, USFA from Burkina Faso, and Sam Nelly FC from Benin Republic.
The WAFU B Women’s Champions League qualifiers are scheduled to take place from Friday, August 18, to Thursday, August 31. The opening match of the competition will see Delta Queens of Nigeria hosting USFA from Burkina Faso.
The ultimate victor of the tournament will earn a spot in the 2023 CAF Women’s Champions League, scheduled to occur from Sunday, November 5, to Sunday, November 19, 2023, in Ivory Coast.
In the inaugural edition of the WAFU B Women’s Champions League qualifiers in 2021, Ghana’s Hasaacas Ladies emerged as the winners. In the subsequent edition, Nigeria’s Bayelsa Queens FC clinched the title by defeating Ampem Darkoa Ladies in the final.