Ampem Darkoa, Africa Sport clash in WAFU Zone B Women’s Champions League semis
Ghana’s representatives, Ampem Darkoa Ladies, will play Africa Sport of Cote d’Ivoire in the first semi-final of the West Africa Football Union (WAFU) Zone B CAF Champions League in Yamoussoukro today.
Ghana’s double champions beat Togo’s Athleta FC 1-0 in their last Group B match to finish second in the group and pick one of the two semi-final slots.
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The Ivorians topped Group A as hosts, setting the stage for a crucial battle for the final to enhance their chances of picking the sole WAFU Zone B ticket to the main CAF Women’s CAF Champions League in Morocco later in the year.
Road to semi-finals
Before reaching the last four stage, debutantes Ampem Darkoa had beaten Burkina Faso’s USFA 3-0 and drawn goalless with Bayelsa Queens of Nigeria in their first two group matches.
Bayelsa Queens topped Group B on superior goals after defeating Athleta FC and USFA by 3-1 margins and drawing with Ampem Darkoa.
The Nigerian champions will play the second semi-final against Benin’s Espoir to determine the other finalist.
Honours
So far, Techiman-based Ampem Darkoa have also won two Most Valuable Player awards in the competition. Constance Agyeman won it in their opening match against USFA, while Grace Acheampong won same in their second game against Bayelsa Queens.
Maiden edition
Ampem Darkoa are the second Ghanaian side to reach the semi-finals of the competition which was instituted last year by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as part of efforts to develop women’s football on the continent.
In the maiden edition held last year, Ghana’s representatives, Hasaacas Ladies, also finished second in Group B behind River Angels of Nigeria, but went on to beat the Nigerians in the final to be crowned the inaugural WAFU B champions.
They went ahead to finish second to Mamelodi Sundowns in the maiden CAF Women’s Champions League.