Ampem Darkoa Coach Faults Edo Queens’ Late CAF Final Protest

Ampem Darkoa head coach Charles Anokye Frimpong has criticized Edo Queens for asking CAF to annul the continuation of the WAFU B Women’s Champions League final in Cairo, insisting the Nigerian side should have raised its objections before the match rather than after the outcome.

Edo Queens have formally challenged the continuation of the final on three grounds: an alleged unauthorized change of venue from Ouagadougou to Cairo without the required confirmation from WAFU B under CAF’s decision; an alleged failure to restore sporting conditions, including being prevented from fielding eligible players who had featured in the original match; and concerns that its delegation was housed at a military base instead of a conventional team hotel.

Frimpong, speaking to 3Sports GH, said WAFU organizers held several meetings over how the competition would be conducted and argued that Edo Queens did not protest at the time.

He said the Nigerian club traveled to Egypt, trained at the military base alongside Ampem Darkoa, and played the match.

The Ampem Darkoa coach said he initially ignored reports of Edo Queens’ protest after the game because he felt the Nigerian side knew the organizers had been at fault but chose not to challenge the arrangements earlier.

He added that Edo Queens should have protested alongside Ampem Darkoa instead of remaining “comfortable.”

Frimpong also suggested that Edo Queens could have won if the remaining extra time had been played that day, and said the situation illustrated what can happen when clubs do not respect football.