We are well prepared to win within 30 minutes – Ampem Darkoa coach fires warning to Edo Queens

Ampem Darkoa Ladies head coach Charles Anokye Frimpong has declared his side ready to finish off Edo Queens within 30 minutes of extra time as they prepare for their decisive WAFU Zone B qualifying final in Egypt.

The Ghana Women’s Premier League champions will face their Nigerian rivals in Cairo on Thursday, October 29, with the winner securing the final ticket to represent the WAFU Zone B region at the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League.

With a place in Africa’s elite women’s club competition up for grabs, Frimpong believes his players can win during extra time without needing a penalty shootout.

The two teams will resume their battle from the start of extra time, with the score tied at 2-2 after their original final on September 5 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, ended in a draw.

Edo Queens initially won 4-1 on penalties, but that result was later overturned following a successful protest by Ampem Darkoa over the failure to play extra time before the shootout.

The CAF Appeal Board upheld the decision on October 16, ordering both teams to play two 15-minute periods to determine the winner, with a fresh penalty shootout required if the scores remain level.

Ahead of the crucial encounter, Frimpong says his team are focused on making the most of their final preparations before taking the pitch against the Nigerian champions.

“We are going to have our final pre-activation game this evening to wind up our final training towards tomorrow’s match, and we are well determined and well prepared to win this match within 30 minutes without even sending it to the penalty shootout so that we can stay in Egypt and continue with the Women’s Champions League,” he told 3Sports.

Ampem Darkoa will draw confidence from their earlier meeting with Edo Queens, having beaten the Nigerian side 2-1 during the group stage of the WAFU Zone B qualifiers.

However, the stakes are much higher this time, with both teams knowing that victory will secure their place in the main continental tournament.

Should Ampem Darkoa win, they will join Group B of the CAF Women’s Champions League alongside defending champions AS FAR of Morocco, USFAS Bamako of Mali and Kawempe Muslim Ladies of Uganda.

The tournament is scheduled to run from November 1 to 15 in Egypt.

A victory would also secure Ghana’s representation in Africa’s premier women’s club competition, making Thursday’s showdown a defining moment for the Techiman-based side.