UFOA-B final set for decisive second half after early goals

Edo Queens and Ampem Darkoa Ladies were locked at 1-1 at half-time in the Women’s UFOA-B qualifying tournament final, after a dramatic opening at the Stade du 4-Aout in Ouagadougou. The match winner will represent the zone in the CAF Women’s Champions League.

The final began later than scheduled because of bad weather, but the delay did little to reduce the intensity once play got under way. Both sides produced an energetic first half, with the opening goals arriving within seconds of one another.

Ampem Darkoa made the faster start and took the lead in the second minute. Beline Nyarkoh found the breakthrough for the Ghanaian side, giving Ampem Darkoa an early advantage in the regional final.

Edo Queens responded almost immediately. Before Ampem Darkoa had been able to settle into their lead, Dooshima Tarnum restored parity for the Nigerian representatives. Her goal brought the score back to 1-1 and ensured that neither team held the initiative for long.

The equaliser set the tone for an increasingly competitive contest. Edo Queens and Ampem Darkoa continued to challenge each other in an intense first period, but neither team could produce another decisive moment before the interval.

As a result, the two teams went into half-time level, with the final still finely balanced after an opening period shaped by a rapid exchange of goals. Ampem Darkoa’s early strike and Edo Queens’ immediate reply remain the only scores of the contest.

The second half will determine the winner of the UFOA-B zone and decide which of the two sides earns qualification for the CAF Women’s Champions League. With the match level after 45 minutes, both teams remain in contention to claim the regional title.

The delayed start, caused by the adverse weather conditions, did not prevent the final from developing into an animated encounter at the Stade du 4-Aout. Ampem Darkoa had the first significant success, but Edo Queens’ swift response meant the Ghanaian side could not carry its advantage into the break.

Neither team was able to establish lasting control during the remainder of the half. The scoreline therefore remains unchanged at 1-1 as the deciding period approaches, with the outcome of the final and the qualification place still to be settled.