The final will take place at the August 4 Stadium in Ouagadougou on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at 4:00 pm.

The two sides met in the group stage of the competition, where Ampem Darkoa Ladies came from behind to beat Edo Queens 2-1, with Milot Pokuaa grabbing the winning goal in the second half.

The clash pits the two best teams in the competition against each other, with Ampem Darkoa heading into the final with an unbeaten record after four wins from four matches.

Edo Queens, former champions of the competition, thrashed USFA 5-1 in the semi-final, while Ampem Darkoa Ladies made light work of FC Dynamique d’Abomey with a 4-1 victory, setting up this epic showdown on Saturday.

The final will not only determine the WAFU Zone B champions but also decide which team secures qualification for the CAF Women’s Champions League.

For Ampem Darkoa, it is an opportunity to complete a successful campaign by repeating their group-stage victory over Edo Queens, while the Nigerian champions will be seeking redemption on the biggest stage of the tournament.

The Ghanaian champions will head into the final with confidence after defeating Edo Queens 2-1 in the group stage, although the Nigerian side will be eager to avenge that defeat and secure the coveted ticket to the CAF Women’s Champions League.

Credit: Ghana FA

He will be part of the match official team overseeing the clash between Moroccan giants AS FAR and RS Berkane, scheduled to take place next week in Rabat.

This appointment places Laryea among a select group of top officials for the significant fixture.

The Match Officials are as follows:

Dahane Beida – Referee – Mauritania

Jerson Emiliano Dos Emiliano

Dos SANTOS – Assistant Referee I – Angola

Elvis Guy Noupue Nguegoue – Assistant Referee II – Cameroon

Abdel Aziz BOUH – Fourth Official – Mauritania

Sekou Massire SYLLA – Commissioner – Mali

René Daniel Louzaya – Referee Assessor – Congo

Jules Karangwa – General Coordinator -Rwanda

HOUYAM BENHAMMOU – Media Officer – Morocco

Mahmoud Taher – Security Officer – Egypt

Haythem GUIRAT – Video Assistant Referee – Tunisia

Daniel Nii Ayi Laryea – Assistant VAR – Ghana

Emmanuel Eboue – Assistant General Coordinator – Côte D’Ivoire

Mariam Rakid – Broadcast Venue Manager – Morocco

The match will be played at Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdallah in Rabat at 20H00 GMT: (19H00) on April 11, 2026.

Credit: Ghana FA

FIFA referee Daniel Nii Ayi Laryea will be training as both a FIFA Center Referee and a FIFA VAR Referee.

Daniel Laryea has been a FIFA-listed referee since 2014 and is widely regarded as one of Africa’s most experienced match officials. In 2012, at age 24, he made his debut in the Ghana Premier League in a match between Medeama SC and Berekum Chelsea. Two years later, he earned his FIFA badge, paving the way for international assignments.

Since then, Laryea has officiated in numerous high-profile tournaments across Africa, including WAFU Competitions, CHAN Tournaments, CAF-Interclub competitions, the Women’s Champions League, and the Africa Cup of Nations.

Laryea has also served as an AVAR (Assistant Video Assistant Referee) in CAF competitions, including the Women’s Champions League.

His most recent appointment on the domestic scene was the Super Clash between arch-rivals Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi, where Hearts of Oak beat Asante Kotoko by a goal to nil.

Laryea also demonstrated top-quality refereeing at the recent Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, with the semifinal match between host Morocco and Nigeria being the highlight of the matches he officiated.

Credit: Ghana FA

Sudan had done it. They had upset the odds to chalk an improbable victory against Equatorial Guinea in the ongoing 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, and with it came a number of milestones.

The 1-0 scoreline may have come via an own goal, but it would prove enough to send Sudan into the knockout phase of the tournament as one of the best third-place teams following hosts Morocco’s 3-0 thrashing of Zambia the day after.

The result also marked the country’s first AFCON win in 13 years and only their second since 1970, when they defeated Ghana in the final to emerge as champions.

A different Sudan

A lot has changed since 1970 and different generations of Sudanese haven’t experienced anything close to those glory days.

Sudan was once a football powerhouse. One of the three founding teams of the continental showpiece – alongside Egypt and Ethiopia – Sudan were credible contenders at every AFCON they graced.

Between 1957 and 1970, they finished as runners-up twice, third once, and won the competition after getting the better of other African heavyweights like Cameroon, Egypt, and Ghana.

Sudan would also play in the 1972 Olympic Games in Germany, capping off a dominant period where the country’s football was well and truly at its zenith.

These days, however, football and Sudan have grown apart, with the country enduring one of the most turbulent periods in its modern history. Since the conflict in the country started in 2023, more than 150,000 people have been killed and nearly 12 million displaced, a grim situation described by the United Nations as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.

Young Sudanese with hopes of becoming professional footballers are currently scattered across different countries, many as refugees, with the domestic league suspended. The country’s two biggest clubs, Al-Hilal Omdurman and Al Merrikh, have been forced to join the Rwandan Premier League in order to remain competitive in continental competitions.

Even the national team has been training in Doha for the better part of the last two years. All these, though, haven’t stopped the Falcons of Jediane from dreaming. Under Kwesi Appiah, who was appointed as head coach in September 2023, the team and its supporters back home have been united.

A story of resilience

Sudan arrived at the AFCON determined to compete, not merely to participate. This is a team very much aware that it represents more than itself; it carries the hopes of people watching from refugee camps, temporary shelters, and distant diasporas.

The squad’s composition itself tells a story of perseverance. Midfielder Ammar Taifour was born in the United States of America but has felt the horror of the conflict in Sudan up close, having once found himself in a hotel in Omdurman that was surrounded by gunmen, yet he continues to represent the national team proudly.

Forward John Mano lost his best friend, an aspiring footballer who he says was “shot 20 to 25 times” – to the conflict, but he still wears the national jersey to honour the memory of the deceased.

Even head coach Appiah has had to prove himself far away from his home country of Ghana, where his ratings fell drastically after separate unconvincing spells with the Black Stars. But in the chaos, the Falcons of Jediane and their progress at the AFCON has offered a rare source of joy and national unity.

“We’re trying to free our country the football way,” striker Mano, who came off the bench to help Sudan secure that important victory over Equatorial Guinea, told the BBC.

“There have been several occasions where some players have lost their family members. So most of the time, we all sit around such players and console them… We want to put smiles on the faces of the fans back home,” Appiah said, also to BBC Sport.

In Sudan’s darkest moments, football has provided a shared language of hope. Whatever happens from here on is almost secondary. Win or lose in the knockout stage, Kwesi Appiah and his football nomads have already made a lasting impact in Morocco.

Credit: Olympics.com

The Minister first visited Asante Kotoko at their training ground, where he inspired the players to restore the club’s historic glory on the continental stage.

Addressing the team, he emphasised the need for discipline, teamwork, and determination, urging them to rise to the expectations of millions of fans in Ghana and abroad.

He later met the Bibiani Gold Stars team at their hotel, where he encouraged the players to believe in themselves as they make their maiden appearance on the continental stage. He called on the team to seize the opportunity to write history and prove that their consistency in the domestic league can be translated into success in Africa.

As a mark of his personal support, Hon. Kofi Adams donated GH¢10,000 each to Asante Kotoko and Bibiani Gold Stars to aid their preparations.

The Minister reiterated government’s commitment to creating the right environment for clubs to excel internationally through policies, infrastructure, and technical support. He further assured the teams of the nation’s backing as they fly the Ghana flag high on the continental stage.

Credit: Ministry of Sports & Recreation

The Minister was led by Ashanti Regional Minister Dr Frank Amoakohene and accompanied by the Ministry’s Chief Director Mrs Wilhelmina Asamoah and Hon. Betty Krosbi Mensah, Senior Technical Advisor to the Minister.

Hon. Adams reported that, despite a major upgrade in 2022, Baba Yara now needs immediate pitch re-grassing, flood-light repairs and spectator-area refurbishment to satisfy CAF licensing standards ahead of Asante Kotoko’s and Bibiani Gold Stars’ continental fixtures.

He added that the Nyinahin Youth Resource Centre—planned as a 5 000-seat multi-sport hub—has remained uncompleted since the contractor left site in November 2024.

Commending the Minister’s hands-on approach, Otumfuo pledged: “I will lead the fund-raising drive among our major mining companies to ensure Baba Yara is match-ready and the Nyinahin complex is finally completed.”

He requested the Ministry to submit detailed cost estimates immediately so that resources can be mobilised without delay.

Hon. Adams welcomed the commitment, emphasizing that collaboration between traditional leadership, government and the private sector is essential to safeguarding Ghana’s sporting heritage.

He assured Otumfuo that engineering teams will finalise and forward the estimates within days and that a joint task force will track progress to guarantee transparency and timely delivery.

The meeting highlights the Ministry’s nationwide push to revive key sports venues, restore community pride and strengthen Ghana’s capacity to host elite competitions.

Credit: Ministry of Sports & Recreation

Berkane’s goalless draw against Luanda Sol in Angola cemented their dominance in Group D, while Stellenbosch triumphed over Stade Malien to join the Moroccans in the next round.

Meanwhile, USM Alger overcame Orapa United in Botswana to top Group 3.

Zamalek Cruise Past Black Bulls to Secure Quarter-Final Spot

Title holders Zamalek SC advanced to the quarter-finals with an authoritative 3-1 victory over Black Bulls in Mozambique on Sunday.

The Egyptian giants remain unbeaten in Group D and lead the standings with 11 points, confirming their progression with one match to spare.

Hossam Ashraf emerged as the star of the night, netting twice in quick succession early in the second half.

His first came in the 51st minute when he pounced on a deflected cross to fire Zamalek ahead. Just two minutes later, he doubled his tally with a deft finish following sustained pressure from the hosts.

Black Bulls responded through Egaita Efone, who pulled one back in the 62nd minute with a well-placed header. However, Zamalek’s Ahmed Sayed Zizo sealed the win in the 83rd minute, finishing a brilliant solo effort to extinguish any hopes of a comeback.

The result leaves Black Bulls at the bottom of Group D with four points, eliminating their chances of advancing further.

Stellenbosch 2-0 Stade Malien: South Africans Book Quarter-Finals Spot

Stellenbosch FC advanced to the quarter-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup with a commanding 2-0 victory over Stade Malien in South Africa on Sunday.

Fawaz Basadin opened the scoring in the 30th minute from the penalty spot with a composed finish. Nine minutes later, Jayden Adams doubled Stellenbosch’s lead with a precise header following a well-delivered corner.

The South Africans controlled the game throughout and moved to nine points, consolidating second place behind Berkane in Group D. Stade Malien, with four points, faces elimination as Stellenbosch joins Berkane in the knockout stage.

Luanda Sol 0-0 Berkane: Moroccan Side Secures Top Spot

Moroccan club Renaissance Berkane held Angola’s Luanda Sol to a 0-0 draw on Sunday in the fifth round of the CAF Confederation Cup group stage, securing their position at the top of Group B.

Despite fielding a rotated squad, Berkane came closest to breaking the deadlock, showcasing dominance in possession and creating the better chances. With this result, Berkane now has 13 points, four points clear of Stellenbosch in second place.

Luanda Sol remains winless and rooted to the bottom of the group with just two points, while Berkane and Stellenbosch have both secured their spots in the quarter-finals ahead of the final group match.

USM Alger 2-1 Orapa United: Algerians Top Group 3

USM Alger secured their spot in the CAF Confederation Cup quarter-finals with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Botswana’s Orapa United on Sunday.

Sekou Gassama put the visitors ahead in the 14th minute, while Hossam Ghosha doubled their advantage in the 60th. Orapa United managed a late consolation goal through Kamogelo Moloi, but it was not enough to prevent their fifth group-stage defeat.

USM Alger now leads Group 3 with 11 points, sealing qualification with one game to spare, while Orapa United remains bottom with two points.

Constantine Cruise Past Sfaxien to Secure Quarter-Final Spot

CS Constantine confirmed their place in the quarter-finals with a dominant 3-0 victory over Tunisian side CS Sfaxien at the Hamlaoui Stadium on Sunday.

Zakaria Ben Chaa starred with a brace, netting in the 31st and 71st minutes, while substitute Mondher Tamine added a late third in stoppage time.

The Algerian side opened the scoring after Ben Chaa combined well with Dhib before coolly slotting the ball past Sfaxien goalkeeper Dahman.

Sfaxien struggled to create clear-cut chances, with their best opportunity coming early in the second half when Basha’s strike was denied by goalkeeper Bouhalfaya.

Constantine doubled their lead when Ben Chaa capitalized on a defensive error, finishing with precision after a neat exchange with Dhib.

Tamine sealed the win with a solo effort in added time, dribbling past the Tunisian defence to bury the ball into the net. Constantine now leads Group 1 with 12 points, while Sfaxien remain bottom without a single point.

Credit: CAF 

The CAF Interclub Committee received a report from the match officials on the matter and decided on the following:

• The two legs of the match will now be played in Congo Brazzaville

• The first leg, Match No.31 (where 15 Agosto is the host team), will be played behind closed doors on 25 August 2024. FC 15 de Agosto de Akonibe will be responsible for all costs related to the organisation of the match.

• The second leg, Match No. 32, will be played two or three days later with spectators, and Association Sportive Otohô be responsible for the organization of the match.

Credit: CAF

Aigles de la Medina are the first Senegalese Club to qualify for the CAF Women’s Champions League after they stunned  Determine Girls 2-1 on Sunday  at Southern Arena Stadium in Bo, Sierra Leone.

Mbene Kane scored a late winner (89′) after Determine Girls FC’s Bountou Sylla opened the scoring (19′), and her teammate Marie Diokh equalized (43′) in the first half.

This marks a significant milestone as Aigles de la Medina became the first club to compete and earn a spot in the WCL 2024, joining title holders Mamelodi Sundowns and future hosts that will be announced in due course.

The second game of the day saw Mogbewmo Queens (Sierra Leone) and Red Scorpion (The Gambia) play a barren draw.

Individual Trophies and Awards

• Best Player: Jessica Quachie (Liberia – Determine Girls)
• Best Scorer: Bountou Sylla, 4 goals (Guinea – Determine Girls)
• Best Goalkeeper: Djaka Chérif Haidara (Mali – AS Mandé)
• Fair Play: Mogbewmo Queens

What you need to know about Aigles de la Médina (Senegal):

Aigles de la Médina, based in Senegal, has been affiliated with the Senegalese Football Federation since 1999.

The team has clinched the National Championship twice; in 2003 and 2007, and the Senegal Cup three times, in 2005, 2006, and 2009. In the 2020-2021 season, the Aigles were leading the league but lost to Amazones de Grand-Yoff on the final day, allowing Dakar Sacre Coeur to secure the title.

In 2023, the Aigles encountered challenges when their key players were transferred to rival clubs, making it tough for the team to retain its top-flight status. However, in 2024, the Aigles once again won the championship, marking their first title in seven years.

They also achieved victory in the national cup, securing a double win with cup and championship. This success led to a historic qualification for the CAF Women’s Champions League qualifying tournament.

Records: 

Senegal championship:

• Winners in 2003, 2007 and 2024
• Runners-up in 2001, 2002, 2004, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2021

Senegal Cup:

• Winners: 2005, 2006, 2009 and 2024

Credit: CAF