Special Reports

CAFWCLQ: Edo Queens battle USFA for final ticket

Edo Queens will face hosts USFA of Burkina Faso in the semi-finals of the 2026 WAFU-B CAF Women’s Champions League qualifiers on Wednesday, with a place in the final and a step closer to continental qualification at stake.

Edo Queens will battle hosts USFA of Burkina Faso for a place in the final of the 2026 WAFU-B CAF Women’s Champions League qualifiers on Wednesday.

Edo Queens booked their place in the knockout stage after an impressive start to their campaign, recording convincing victories over AS Garde Nationale of Niger and ASEC Mimosas of Côte d’Ivoire.

The Benin City-based side opened with a 7-0 demolition of AS Garde Nationale before defeating ASEC Mimosas 3-1 to establish themselves as one of the leading contenders for the WAFU-B ticket.

They finished second in Group B after losing their final group game 2-1 to Ghanaian champions Ampem Darkoa Ladies, who topped the group with nine points.

The result, however, did little to alter Edo Queens’ immediate objective, with their semi-final meeting against USFA now providing a direct route to the final.

USFA enter the contest with home advantage and an equally impressive record in the qualifiers.

The hosts topped Group A after winning both of their matches, beating Benin’s Dynamique FC 3-0 before recording a 4-0 victory over Togo’s ASKO de Kara.

The Burkina Faso side have therefore scored seven goals without conceding in their two group matches and will provide a stern test for Edo Queens.

The semi-final is expected to be a much tighter contest, with both teams aware that one poor performance could end their hopes of progressing to the CAF Women’s Champions League finals.

For Edo Queens, their attacking strength will be crucial.

They have scored 11 goals in three matches in Ouagadougou, with their ability to create and convert chances having been one of the standout features of their campaign.

Players such as Chioma Moses and Oluwakemi Adegbuyi will be expected to play important roles as Kennedy Boboye’s side seek to maintain their push for continental qualification.

The Nigerian champions will also have to deal with the pressure of playing the hosts on their home ground, where local supporters will back USFA.

A place in the final is the immediate prize, but the stakes are bigger.

Victory would leave Edo Queens one match away from securing the WAFU-B ticket to the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League finals and potentially another opportunity to represent Nigeria on the continental stage.

With the group stage now behind them, the Nigerian champions must deliver in their biggest match of the qualifiers so far.