OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso — The group stage of the WAFU Zone B Women’s Champions League Qualification Tournament has come to a thrilling conclusion, with the competition producing goals, individual brilliance, tactical battles and a growing sense that women’s club football in the region is rapidly reaching new heights.
From the opening exchanges, the seven participating clubs demonstrated that qualification for the CAF Women’s Champions League is no longer a straightforward contest between a handful of established names. USFA of Burkina Faso, Ghana’s Ampem Darkoa Ladies and Nigeria’s Edo Queens have particularly impressed, while clubs such as ASEC Mimosas and ASKO de KARA have also contributed to a tournament that has showcased the increasing depth of women’s football across WAFU Zone B.
The group stage produced several eye-catching performances, including Edo Queens’ emphatic 7-0 victory over AS Garde Nationale, USFA’s 5-0 demolition of ASKO de KARA and Ampem Darkoa Ladies’ impressive 2-1 comeback victory over Edo Queens. The Ghanaian champions completed the group stage unbeaten, while USFA finished their campaign without conceding a goal.
WAFU Zone B Executive Director Phillippe Tchere believes the quality on display is evidence of the progress being made across the region.
“What we have witnessed in this group stage is a clear indication that women’s football in WAFU Zone B is moving in the right direction. The teams have shown quality, competitiveness and character, and the performances we have seen give us great confidence about the future of the women’s game in our zone,” he said.
The tournament has also provided a platform for individual talents to emerge. Players such as USFA’s Deborah Guira, Ampem Darkoa’s Nancy Amoh, Edo Queens’ Esther Moses and teenage sensation Oluwakemi Adegbuyi have captured attention with performances that underline the growing pool of talent available to clubs and national teams in the region.
For Tchere, the emergence of these players is just as important as the results.
“Competitions like this are not only about determining who qualifies. They are also about creating a platform for players to express themselves, gain international experience and attract attention. When you see young players performing with confidence against some of the best clubs in the zone, you know the investment in women’s football is beginning to bear fruit,” he added.
With the semi-finals now set, the tournament enters its decisive phase. USFA will face Edo Queens, while Ampem Darkoa Ladies will battle FC Dynamique, with both ties promising another dose of high-quality women’s football